Device and method for pyrolyzing organic compounds using high-frequency induction heating device

ABSTRACT

A device for decomposing an organic compound, which heats and decomposes organic compounds in at least one pyrolysis zone in a gas phase is disclosed. The pyrolysis zone comprises at least one high-frequency induction-heating device provided within a gas passage. The high-frequency induction-heating device preferably comprises an introduction part which introduces a gas to be treated; a pyrolysis part which pyrolyzes the gas to be treated; an induction heating coil provided around the outer circumference of the pyrolysis part so as to surround and heat the pyrolysis part, and an exhaust part which exhausts the gas having been decomposed in the pyrolysis part; wherein the pyrolysis part comprises a cylindrical body both ends of which are sealed, slits which communicate the interior with the exterior of the cylindrical body provided on the outer surface of the cylindrical body, and a communication pores to be communicated with an introduction tube which introduces the gas to be treated into the interior of the cylindrical body.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] This invention concerns a high-frequency induction heating deviceand a device and method for using the high-frequency induction heatingdevice to pyrolyze organic compounds. Specifically, this inventionbelongs to an art by which substances containing harmful compounds suchas organohalogen compounds and other hazardous substance are decomposedin a gas phase by high-frequency induction heating.

[0003] 2. Description of Related Arts

[0004] Organohalogen compounds, which contain chlorine, bromine, orother halogens, include many compounds that are designated as specifiedchemical substances or designated chemicals and also include manycompounds that are causative agents of environmental problems.Representative examples include halogen-substituted aromatic organiccompounds, such as dioxins, polychlorinated biphenyls, chlorobenzene,etc., and aliphatic organohalogen compounds, such astetrachloroethylene, trichloroethylene, dichloromethane, carbontetrachloride, 1,2-dichloroethylene, 1,1-dichloroethylene,cis-1,2-dichloroethylene, 1,1,1-trichloroethane, 1,1,2-trichloroethane,1,3-dichloropropene, etc.

[0005] These organohalogen compounds exist in various forms, i.e.,solid, liquid, and gas forms.

[0006] For example, polychlorinated biphenyls (hereinafter referred toas “PCBs”), due to being highly resistant and chemically stable againstacids and bases, extremely stable thermally, excellent in electricinsulating properties, wide in the form of existence from liquid tosolid, etc., have been used widely and in large amounts in numerousapplications as insulating oils for transformers, capacitors, etc.,plasticizers for electric cables, etc., and thermal media for a varietyof processes in various chemical industries.

[0007] However, it has been found that hazardous substances aregenerated and environmental pollution is caused when PCBs and substancescontaining PCBs are combusted and that hazardous substances, originatingfrom PCB's, become accumulated in human bodies by biologicalconcentration through the food chain, especially through fishes,shellfishes, and other marine products. The production of PCBs was thusprohibited in 1972. Though problems of direct pollution due to themanufacture, etc. of PCBs were thus avoided, since PCBs have been usedin a wide variety of uses due to their high degree of general usabilityand are difficult to decompose, the treatment and disposal of PCBs andsubstances containing PCBs have now become new environmental problems.

[0008] That is, if ordinary incineration treatment is performed to treatand dispose of PCBs and substances containing PCBs, dioxin and otherhazardous substances are generated due to the low incinerationtemperature and these hazardous substances become discharged into theatmosphere along with flue gas, thereby causing further air pollution.On the other hand, if landfill disposal is performed, since PCBs havethe properties of being excellent in stability and extremely difficultto decompose, the PCBs become eluted into the soil to give rise to soil,river, and marine pollution.

[0009] PCBs and products containing PCBs therefore could not be treatedor disposed readily and the actual circumstances are such that PCBsand/or substances containing PCBs are simply stored upon being recoveredby municipalities, etc.

[0010] Under such circumstances, various methods of treating PCBs arebeing examined. Representative decomposition treatment methods includehigh temperature incineration treatment methods, decomposition byenzymes and bacteria, treatment by chemicals (alkaline decompositionmethods), etc., and among these, high-temperature incineration methods,with which PCBs are subject to incineration treatment at hightemperature, were the most effective methods.

[0011] However, even with high-temperature incineration methods, therewere problems that required improvement, such as the degradation of thefurnace by the chlorine that is generated when PCBs are decomposed, thedifficulty of furnace body management due to the requirement of hightemperature (for example, 1600° C. or more) for treatment, thecontaining of large amounts of undecomposed PCBs in the incinerationresidue in some cases due to the incineration heat not being transmittedcompletely to the treated object, the generation of coplanar PCBs,dioxin, and other new hazardous substances in some cases by lowtemperature incineration caused by the inability to perform swifttemperature control upon lowering of the incineration temperature due topoor control response to incineration temperature, etc.

[0012] Also, in the case of treatment of PCBs contained inside acontainer, such as in the case of a transformer, capacitor, etc., thePCBs could not be treated unless the PCBs were taken out of thetransformer, capacitor, etc., and there were problems of contaminationof workers during the work of taking out the PCBs and problems oftreatment of PCBs remaining inside a transformer or capacitor aftertaking out the PCBs.

[0013] Also, a high-temperature incineration furnace is an extremelyexpensive device and a vast amount of space is required for theinstallation of a high-temperature incineration furnace. Ahigh-temperature incineration furnace is also a device that takes anextremely large amount of time for the interior of the furnace to reacha desired temperature (that is, slow in startup) and takes an extremelylarge amount of time for the internal temperature to drop to ordinarytemperature after heating has been stopped.

[0014] Thus in the case where organohalogen compounds are to bedecomposed using a high-temperature incineration furnace, a large amountof the treated object had to be treated in a batch and the treatment oforganohalogen compounds in a small-scale facility accompanied extremedifficulties. There were thus demands for a decomposition device and adecomposition method for organohalogen compounds with which heating to apredetermined temperature could be accomplished within an extremelyshort amount of time and which are compatible with equipment fromcomparatively small-scale equipment to large-scale equipment.

[0015] Also, these organohalogen compounds are contained in solids,liquids, and gases, and there were thus demands for a method ofdecomposing these organic compounds safely and without fail bypractically the same operation method.

[0016] Furthermore, various organic compounds besides organohalogencompounds are causative agents of environmental pollution. There werethus demands for a pyrolysis device and pyrolysis method by whichdecomposition treatment of solids, liquids, and gases containing, forexample, malodorous substances, such as indole, skatole, captans, etc.,various environmental hormones, formaldehyde and other causative agentsof sick house syndrome, waste oil, waste molasses, etc., can be carriedout in a unified manner.

[0017] That is, there were strong demands for an organic compoundpyrolysis device and pyrolysis method by which objects to be treatedthat contain organic compounds can be pyrolyzed and rendered harmlesswith a single device, regardless of the form (gas, liquid, or solid) ofthe organic compounds to be treated and the treated objects containingthese organic compounds.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0018] This invention provides a device for decomposing an organiccompound, which heats and decomposes organic compounds in at least onepyrolysis zone each comprising at least one high-frequency inductionheating device.

[0019] By the use of a high-frequency induction heating device, thedegree of freedom of design of the pyrolysis zone is increased. Inparticular, the high-frequency induction heating device used in thisinvention can heat to a predetermined temperature, such as 1600° C., inan extremely short period, such as in 1 second or less, and moreover,enables the heating zone itself to be provided within a small space.

[0020] With this invention, by providing a means for gasifying solidsand/or liquids at a stage upstream the heating zone, organohalogencompounds contained in the solids and/or liquids can be subject topyrolysis treatment.

[0021] Thus a specific embodiment of this invention may have anarrangement with a gasifying device, for gasification of liquids orsolids containing organic compounds, provided at a stage upstream thepyrolysis zone.

[0022] Such an arrangement enables decomposition treatment of organiccompounds contained in gases, liquids, and solids to be performed with asingle device. That is, treatment of organic compounds contained in agas can be performed by the bypassing of the above mentioned gasifyingdevice.

[0023] Also in the case where the organic compounds to be treated areorganohalogen compounds that are comparatively difficult to decompose(for example, PCBs), this invention's device may be provided with two ormore pyrolysis zones.

[0024] In this case, a preheating zone may be provided at a stageupstream a pyrolysis zone, which comprises this invention'shigh-frequency induction heating device. Additionally or alternatively,a pyrolysis zone, which makes use of radiant heat or comprises anotherhigh-frequency induction heating device, may be provided at a stagedownstream the pyrolysis zone comprising this invention's high-frequencyinduction heating device. Also, it is also possible to provide aplurality of high-frequency induction heating devices within onepyrolysis zone.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025]FIG. 1A is a graph showing the relation between the temperatureand time when the inventive and prior art devices are operated for 8hours, and FIG. 1B is a graph showing the relation between thetemperature and time when the inventive and prior art devices areoperated for 3 hours.

[0026]FIG. 2 is a flowchart, showing the flow of this invention'shigh-frequency induction heating device and an organic compoundpyrolysis method that uses this heating device.

[0027]FIG. 3 is a schematic explanatory diagram, showing anorganohalogen compound decomposition treatment device 1 of a firstembodiment of this invention.

[0028]FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional view of gasifying means 2.

[0029]FIG. 5A is an enlarged view of the principal parts of an upperchamber 11 of gasifying means 2 and FIG. 5B is a perspective view of aheating container 12 used in organohalogen compound decompositiontreatment device 1.

[0030]FIGS. 6A and 6B are perspective arrangement diagrams of apyrolysis means 3.

[0031]FIGS. 7 through 9 are diagrams of embodiments of a heating unit ofpyrolysis means 3.

[0032]FIG. 10 is a schematic arrangement diagram of this invention'sgaseous organohalogen compound decomposition treatment device 201.

[0033]FIGS. 11A and 11B are both sectional views of the principal partsof this invention's gaseous organohalogen compound decompositiontreatment device 201.

[0034]FIG. 12 is a schematic arrangement diagram of a third embodimentof this invention's gaseous organohalogen compound decompositiontreatment device.

[0035]FIG. 13 is a schematic arrangement diagram of a fourth embodimentof this invention's gaseous organohalogen compound decompositiontreatment device.

[0036]FIG. 14 is a schematic explanatory diagram of this invention'sliquid organohalogen compound decomposition treatment device.

[0037]FIG. 15 is a diagram of an embodiment of a trapping device of thisinvention's liquid organohalogen compound decomposition treatmentdevice.

[0038]FIG. 16 shows schematic explanatory diagrams of a pressure releasevalve and a trap provided in a treatment chamber of this invention'sliquid organohalogen compound decomposition treatment device.

[0039]FIG. 17 is a schematic explanatory diagram of a safety deviceprovided at the pressure reducing means side of this invention's liquidorganohalogen compound decomposition treatment device.

[0040]FIG. 18 is a perspective external view of this invention'sorganohalogen compound pyrolysis device.

[0041]FIG. 19 is a perspective view, showing the internal structure ofthis invention's organohalogen compound pyrolysis device.

[0042]FIG. 20 is a longitudinal sectional view of FIG. 18.

[0043]FIG. 21 shows diagrams of other embodiments of a guide member,related to this invention, for distributing and introducing exhaust gas,containing organohalogen compounds, to ceramic pipes, with FIG. 21Abeing a perspective view, showing a guide member of a first otherembodiment wherein grooves are provided along the slope of a cone andFIG. 21B being a perspective view, showing a guide member of a secondother embodiment having a dome-like protrusion.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0044] The terminologies used herein have the following meanings.

[0045] The term “organic compound” used herein is a compound which hasat least one carbon in the structure thereof in the form of a solid,liquid or gas, and which can be gasified at a reaction temperature(e.g., 1000° C. or more). The organic compounds intended herein are socalled chemical hazards and include, but are not limited to, aromatic oraliphatic halogen compounds contained, for example, in incineratedashes, exhaust liquid, and gas, such as PCBs, dioxins;halogen-containing polymers such as PVC, polyvinylidene chloride,polyvinylidene fluoride, specified chemical substances listed in thesection of prior art, exhaust oils, exhaust liquid from alcoholdistillation, and from squeezing olive oil and other vegetable oils,exhaust syrups, and any other residues from food processing.

[0046] The “high-frequency induction heating device” used herein is aheating device that makes use of a high-frequency induced current, inother words, a current that is induced in a conductor by a magneticfield that varies in time.

[0047] The techniques (including the device and the method) forpyrolyzing organic compounds using the high-frequency induction heatingdevice according to this invention will now be outlined.

[0048] The high-frequency induction heating device according to thisinvention has a construction for example as shown in FIG. 18.

[0049] Specifically, the device 401 by this invention comprises anintroduction part 402, into which dioxin-containing gas is introduced, apyrolysis part 403, which pyrolyzes the dioxin-containing gas that hasbeen introduced into the above mentioned introduction part 402, adischarge part 404, which discharges the pyrolysis gas resulting fromthe decomposition at the above mentioned pyrolysis part 403, and aninduction heating coil 405, which surrounds the main body 403 a of theabove mentioned pyrolysis part 403 from the exterior and heats a heatingunit 403 f in the interior, as the principal components.

[0050] Introduction part 402 comprises a dioxin-containing gasintroduction entrance 402 a and a duct 402 b, which becomes enlarged indiameter from the upstream side to the downstream side, as the principalcomponents.

[0051] A water-cooled type cooling jacket 402 c for cooling introductionpart 402 is provided at the outer circumference of duct 402 b.

[0052] Such a device is well-known in the art, but there is no examplethat such a device is used for pyrolyzing an organic compound from theview of energy such as electric power.

[0053] However, according to our studies, it has been discovered thatwhen the high-frequency induction heating device is used, a timerequired for heating-up to a given temperature (i.e., start-up time) anda shut down time to stop the operation are very fast in comparison withthe conventional devices for pyrolyzing organic compounds, and thedevice itself can be designed to be very small. Since it takes veryshort period of start-up time and/or shut-down time, the high-frequencyinduction heating device is not required to perform a continuousoperation as in the conventional furnace. For this reason, thetechniques for pyrolyzing organic compounds can be introduced into arelatively small-scale customer, which has entrusted a specialist withthe treatment. Also, while the treatment has been conventionallyperformed when a prescribed amount of organic substances to be treatedare accumulated, the introduction of the present techniques by the highfrequency induction heating device makes it possible to treat thesubstance little by little. Particularly, upon using the high frequencyinduction heating device described in the following embodiment, thetreatment efficiency is sharply increased.

[0054] For example, this is explained by referring to FIG. 1A and FIG.1B each showing the relation between the temperature and the time. FIG.1A is a graph showing the relation between the temperature and time whenthe inventive and prior art devices are operated for 8 hours, and FIG.1B is a graph showing the relation between the temperature and time whenthe inventive and prior art devices are operated for 3 hours.

[0055] As shown in FIG. 1A, in the conventional device, for example, 3hours is required for preheating. In contrast, in the case of the highfrequency induction heating device according to the present invention,only half hour is required to be heated to a prescribed temperature.Similarly, in the prior art, approximately 2 hors have been required forcooling down the device after the operation has been stopped, while thepresent device only requires 0.5 hours. For this reason, assuming thatthe treatment is carried out for the same period in each of the priorart device and the present device, practical treatment over a period of7 hours can be done in the present device, whereas only 4 hours'treatment can be done in the prior art device. Furthermore, as shown inFIG. 1B, concerning 3 hour's total operation, the treatment can be donefor 2 hours using the present device, while it is impossible to make anytreatment using the prior art device.

[0056] In addition, as can been seen in FIG. 1, since the high frequencyinduction heating device according to the present invention has a goodtemperature following-up property, the treatment can be effectively donefor example at 1600° C., after treatment, for example, at 1000° C. orvice versa.

[0057] Consequently, the use of the present device, i.e., the highfrequency induction heating device, makes it possible to drasticallyincrease the degree of freedom with regard to the operation schedule.

[0058] Moreover, the operation and the maintenance of the prior artdevice require skill, but those of the present invention are easy.

[0059] More over, the pyrolysis device (system) according to thisinvention has, for example, the configuration shown in FIG. 2.

[0060] When the substance to be treated is in a solid form, includingsol and gel, or a liquid form, the substance is gasified through anoptional treating device and then is passed through the pyrolysis zone.On the other hand, when the substance to be treated is in a gas form,the substance is bypassed through the optional pretreatment device, anddirectly enters in the pyrolysis zone. The pyrolysis zone comprises anoptional preheating device, at least one high frequency inductionheating device and an optional post-heating device (preferably aradiation heating and/or high frequency induction heating device).

[0061] First, the substance is heated to a prescribed temperaturethrough the optional preheating device, and then pyrolyzed through thehigh frequency induction heating device according to the presentinvention. Optionally, the substance remaining un-decomposed iscompletely decomposed through the latter post-heating device, afterwhich the decomposed products are transferred to the post-treatmentdevice known per se. The post-treatment device may be a filter forrecovery of carbon, or a trapping zone containing adsorbing agent and/orabsorbing agent.

[0062] According to this configuration, the substance in any form, i.e.,in a solid, liquid, or gas form, can be treated only in one linecomprising the present device.

[0063] This invention will now be described in detail by referring tospecific embodiments. In the following embodiments, PCBs, which aredifficult to be decomposed, will be exemplified. However, those skilledin the art will appreciate that this invention is applicable to variousorganic compounds having decomposition energy lower than those of PCBs.

[0064] (First Embodiment)

[0065] A first embodiment of this invention shall now be described withreference to FIGS. 4 through 9.

[0066] This invention's organohalogen compound decomposition treatmentdevice is a device that renders harmless organohalogen compounds and/orsubstances containing organohalogen compounds without discharging anyhazardous substances whatsoever from the discharge port of the device.

[0067] Here, the organohalogen compounds and/or substances containingorganohalogen compounds that can be subject to decomposition treatmentby this invention's organohalogen compound decomposition treatmentdevice are not limited to just organohalogen compounds themselves, inother words, PCBs themselves (both solids and liquid) but also refer tosubstances containing PCBs (capacitors, transformers, paper, wood, andsoil), mixtures with other oils, as in the case of PCBs used in chemicalplants, etc., and dioxins and substances containing dioxins.

[0068] Also, a PCBs-gasified gas refers to a gas resulting from thegasification of PCBs.

[0069] As shown in FIG. 3, this invention's organohalogen compounddecomposition treatment device 1 comprises a gasifying means 2,pyrolysis means 3, trapping means 4, pressure differential generatingmeans 5, and pressure reducing means 6 as the principal components.

[0070] The gasifying means 2 of this invention's organohalogen compounddecomposition treatment device 1 heats PCBs and/or a PCBs-containingsubstance P (shall be referred to hereinafter as “treated object P”) andthereby generates PCBs-gasified gas.

[0071] This gasifying means 2 comprises a lower chamber 10 and an upperchamber 11, which is disposed adjacent the upper part of lower chamber10.

[0072] A heating container 12, which contains the above mentionedtreated object P, is housed and subject to replacement with inert gasincluding, but being not limited to, a rare gas such as helium, argon,and neon, carbon dioxide, and/or nitrogen in the above mentioned lowerchamber 10. Meanwhile, at the above mentioned upper chamber 11, thetreated object P, which has been subject to replacement with an inertgas and has been sent out from inside the above mentioned lower chamber10, is melted under a reduced pressure atmosphere to generatePCBs-gasified gas.

[0073] The shapes and sizes of this upper chamber 11 and lower chamber10 are not restricted in particular, and, for example, a cylinder,quadratic prism, etc. may be selected as suited as the shape.

[0074] Also, though upper chamber 11 is smaller in size than lowerchamber 10 in the present embodiment, these may be the same in size.

[0075] An opening 13, which puts upper chamber 11 and lower chamber 10in communication, is provided at the connection surface between lowerchamber 10 and upper chamber 11.

[0076] The shape of this opening 13 is not restricted in particular aslong as it is a shape by which the heating container 12 that containsthe above mentioned treated object P can be carried from inside lowerchamber 10 to inside upper chamber 11. A shape (substantially circular)and size that are the same as those of the planar section of the innercircumferential face of a high-frequency coil 24, which shall bedescribed later and is provided inside upper chamber 11, are preferable.

[0077] A shutter 14 is provided in a manner enabling sliding in thehorizontal direction at the roof surface of lower chamber 10 of thisgasifying means 2, that is, at the lower face of the above mentionedopening 13, and upper chamber 11 and lower chamber 10 can thereby bepartitioned as suited.

[0078] Also, a carry-in entrance 15 is provided at a side face of lowerchamber 10 of gasifying means 2. Thus treated object P, after beingcontained in heating container 12, is carried inside lower chamber 10via this carry-in entrance 15.

[0079] Here, the material of heating container 12 is not restricted inparticular as long as it enables heat to be transmitted efficiently totreated object P. Examples of such a material include, but are notrestricted to, molybdenum, stainless steel, dielectric ceramics, carbon,etc. With the present embodiment a heating container 12 that is made ofmolybdenum is used.

[0080] The shape of heating container 12 is also not restricted inparticular. However with prior-art indirect heating methods, when thedistance between treated object P and the heating part is far, there wasthe disadvantage that temperature control response was poor and thus atemperature at which PCBs and oils boil could not be maintained.

[0081] Thus in order to resolve this disadvantage, the container used inthe present embodiment has a plurality of blades 16, each comprising aheat-resistant metal, provided at predetermined intervals along theinner peripheral surface of heating container 12 in a manner wherebythey protrude towards the center of the container, and these blades 16are arranged to contact treated object P to enable heating to beperformed by efficient heat transfer (see FIG. 5B).

[0082] In order to enable blades 16 to contact treated object Pregardless of the size of treated object P, a thin, soft, rectangularplate is preferable as the form of blade 16. Also with regard to themethod of positioning the blades 16, an arrangement is preferablewherein the ends at one side in the length direction of the abovementioned blades 16 are fixed along the inner peripheral surface ofheating container 12 at suitable intervals and the respective ends atthe other side are bent towards the bottom part of heating container 12while facing toward the axial center of heating container 12.

[0083] Alternatively, treated object P may be arranged to be carriedinto lower chamber 10 of gasifying means 2 with it being placed notinside heating container 12 but inside a drum made of the same materialas heating container 12.

[0084] A lift 17 is provided in a manner enabling rising and loweringinside lower chamber 10 of gasifying means 2 (see FIG. 4). Atsubstantially the central part of the upper surface of this lift 17 isprovided an alumina pedestal 18, on the upper surface of which is placedthe heating container 12 that has been carried in from carry-in entrance15.

[0085] A circular packing 19, for partitioning lower chamber 10 fromupper chamber 11 while maintaining the sealing of upper chamber 11, isprovided at the upper part of lift 17 with alumina pedestal 18 beingequipped at its central part.

[0086] The interior of upper chamber 11 can thus be sealed tightly bymaking the above mentioned packing 19 of circular shape contact the roofsurface of lower chamber 10 upon opening the above mentioned shutter 14provided at the opening 13 that puts lower chamber 10 and upper chamber11 in communication and sending the heating container 12, which containstreated object P, to the inner side of the below-describedhigh-frequency coil 24 provided inside upper chamber 11.

[0087] Lower chamber 10 is also provided with a vacuum exhaust pipe 20for exhausting the air inside lower chamber 10 and an inert gasintroduction pipe 21 for introducing inert gas into lower chamber 10from a gas cylinder (not shown) filled with the inert gas such asdescribed above. Valves 22 and 23 are provided respectively at thedownstream side of vacuum exhaust pipe 20 and the upstream side of inertgas introduction pipe 21.

[0088] The interior of lower chamber 10 can thus be replaced by inertgas to eliminate the air and the moisture contained in the air insidethe treated object P that has been carried into lower chamber 10 andinside the lower chamber 10.

[0089] The layout positions of vacuum exhaust pipe 20 and inert gasintroduction pipe 21 are not restricted in particular as long as thepositions enable inert gas replacement of the interior of lower chamber10.

[0090] With the present embodiment, the above mentioned vacuum exhaustpipe 20 provided at lower chamber 10 is connected, via thebelow-described pyrolysis means 3, trapping means 4, and pressuredifferential generating means 5, to a vacuum pump 42, which is thepressure reducing means 6 (see FIG. 3). A reduced pressure atmosphere isthus arranged to be formed inside lower chamber 10 by means of thisvacuum pump 42.

[0091] The method for forming a reduced pressure atmosphere inside lowerchamber 10 is not restricted to the above arrangement and an arrangementis also possible wherein a vacuum pump is separately provided forforming a reduced atmosphere inside just the above mentioned lowerchamber 10.

[0092] Also, in place of an arrangement wherein the supply of inert gasinto lower chamber 10 is achieved by means of a gas cylinder (not shown)that is filled with inert gas and connected to inert gas introductionpipe 21, inert gas may be supplied by means of a liquid nitrogen supplydevice (not shown) that is used in the below-described pressuredifferential generating means or by means of the gas resulting fromgasification of the liquid nitrogen used in pressure differentialgenerating means 5.

[0093] The high-frequency coil 24, into the inner side of which theheating container 12 that has been sent from inside lower chamber 10 bylift 17 is inserted, is disposed in upper chamber 11 of gasifying means2 in manner whereby it spirals from the lower part to the upper part ofupper chamber 11 and the space at the inner side takes on asubstantially cylindrical form (see FIGS. 4 and 5A).

[0094] Furthermore, a pressure sensor (not shown), such as a Piranigauge for measuring the pressure inside this upper chamber 11 isdisposed inside upper chamber 11.

[0095] For the melting of the treated object P and gasification of PCBsby induction heating by high frequency, high-frequency coil 24 isconnected to a high-frequency power supply (not shown) that is equippedwith an inverter circuit and arranged to enable control of the heatingtemperature as suited.

[0096] The control of this high-frequency coil 24 is generally performedby a voltage amplification method. However in the case of a voltageamplification method, a discharge occurs inside the vacuum chamber whenthe voltage becomes 400V or more and this may impede the temperaturecontrol. Thus with the present embodiment, a current amplificationmethod, with which such problems will not occur, is employed.

[0097] The employment of a high-frequency induction heating method forthe heating for melting the treated object P provides various advantagessuch as the time required for raising the temperature from an ordinarytemperature to 1000° C. being a short time of approximately 0.5 seconds,it being possible to concentrate the heating energy just to the innerside of high-frequency coil 24, and it being possible to settemperatures in the range of 100° C. to 3000° C. (heat resistancetemperature of carbon) in accordance to the power supply used and theheat resistance temperature of treated object P. The employment of ahigh-frequency power supply using an inverter circuit provides furtheradvantages as it being possible to maintain the heating temperaturewithin ±5° C. of a set value due to good following of the powersupplying amount to temperature changes of the treated object P and itbeing possible to control the temperature rapidly and accurately inresponse to pressure rises within a furnace when PCBs-gasified gas isgenerated from treated object P, thus enabling the boiling point oftreated object P at that pressure to be maintained in a stable manner.

[0098] A vacuum valve 25 is provided in a manner enabling opening andclosing at the downstream side of upper chamber 11 of gasifying means 2(see FIG. 3).

[0099] This vacuum valve 25 is provided to put upper chamber 11 incommunication with the above mentioned pyrolysis means 3 and enable thePCBs-gasified gas generated inside gasifying means 2 to be supplied topyrolysis means 3 when a negative pressure state, due to thebelow-described pressure differential generating means 5, or a reducedpressure state, due to vacuum pump 42, is formed inside this invention'sorganohalogen compound decomposition treatment device 1.

[0100] With organohalogen compound decomposition treatment device 1 ofthe present embodiment, an oil trap 26 is connected via a bypass pipingto the piping that connects the above mentioned gasifying means 2 withthe above mentioned pyrolysis means 3.

[0101] Thus in the case where the PCBs-containing substance to be meltedinside the above mentioned gasifying means 2 is a mixture with anotherlow boiling point oil, etc., the low boiling point components containedin the PCBs-containing substance can be separated and recovered insideoil trap 26 by heating treated object P at a temperature less than orequal to the gasification temperature of the PCBs.

[0102] The pyrolysis means 3 of this invention's organohalogen compounddecomposition treatment device 1 converts the PCBs-gasified gasgenerated at the above-described gasifying means 2 into harmlessdecomposition gas by contact pyrolysis by contact with a heating unitand by pyrolysis by radiant heat in the process of passage through holesformed in a heating unit.

[0103] This pyrolysis means 3 is connected to the downstream side of theabove-described gasifying means 2 via vacuum valve 25 and is equipped inits interior with a heating unit 30, which contacts and pyrolyzes thePCBs-gasified gas (see FIGS. 3 and 6).

[0104] This heating unit 30 comprises a cylindrical body 31, through thecylindrical interior of which the PCBs-gasified gas is passed through, adecomposing part 32, which is disposed inside the cylindrical body 31,and a holding member 33, which holds the above mentioned decomposingpart 32 inside the cylindrical body 31.

[0105] Heating unit 30 of pyrolysis means 3 is heated across itsentirety in order to pyrolyze the PCBs-gasified gas. The method forheating this heating unit 30 is not restricted in particular as long asheating unit 30 is arranged to be heated across its entirety. Microwaveheating, dielectric heating, or induction heating, etc., may thus beselected as suited.

[0106] The heating temperature of heating unit 30 is not restricted inparticular as long as the temperature enables cleavage of the benzenerings of the PCBs by heat and can be selected as suited from within arange of 1000 to 3000° C.

[0107] Heating unit 30 is thus arranged to employ the two pyrolysismethods of contact pyrolysis by contact with decomposing part 32 andpyrolysis by radiant heat in the process of passage between decomposingpart 32 and cylindrical body 31 to pyrolyze the PCBs-gasified gaswithout fail.

[0108] The respective members (cylindrical body 31, decomposing part 32,and holding member 33) that comprise heating unit 30 are made oftungsten, molybdenum, nickel, and alloys thereof, stainless steel, or aheat-resistant steel such as incoloy, etc. Also, those skilled in theart will appreciate that a trace amount of niobium may be introducedinto the heat-resistance material to enhance creep resistance. Thematerial can be suitably selected depending upon a particular use, i.e.,the intended temperature, cost, etc.

[0109] With the present embodiment, decomposing part 32 takes on theshape of a truncated cone. This truncated conical decomposing part 32 isdisposed inside the above mentioned cylindrical body 31 in anorientation such that the gap between the inner wall surface ofcylindrical body 31 becomes gradually smaller from the upstream side tothe downstream side of cylindrical body 31, that is, in an orientationsuch that the cross-sectional area of the flow path of the PCBs-gasifiedgas becomes smaller from the upstream side to the downstream side.

[0110] This decomposing part 32 has one end thereof fixed to the abovementioned holding member 33 and is held inside cylindrical body 31 byholding member 33 being fitted in the cylindrical interior ofcylindrical member 31.

[0111] In order to make heat be transmitted readily in the process ofheating the heating unit 30, the truncated conical decomposing part 32may be provided with the shape of a truncated cone with which thecentral part has been gouged out.

[0112] Furthermore in place of this truncated cone, a plurality ofplates 35 may be provided in a radial manner as blades on the outercircumferential surface of cylinder as shown in FIG. 7A, a plurality ofsuch arrangements may be equipped inside a cylinder from the upstreamside to downstream side along the direction of flow of the PCBs-gasifiedgas, and the positions of the above mentioned blade plates may beshifted gradually to increase the area of collision (area of contact)with the PCBs-gasified gas.

[0113] Heating unit 30 of pyrolysis means 3 may also have an arrangementwherein a plurality of blades are provided on an axial rod 36 from theupstream side to the downstream side along the direction of flow of thePCBs-gasified gas as shown in FIG. 7B and with these plurality of bladesbeing housed within a cylinder and axial rod 36 being rotated by amotor, etc., (not shown).

[0114] In this case, the PCBs-gasified gas can be pyrolyzed whileforcibly supplying the PCBs-gasified gas from the above-describedgasifying means 2 by means of the rotation of axial rod 36 by the abovementioned motor.

[0115] An arrangement is also possible wherein, as shown in FIG. 8, thePCBs-gasified gas is introduced inside a circular pipe, then exhaustedfrom holes provided on the outer circumferential surface of thiscircular pipe, and then passed through gaps between plates, disposed soas to cover the upper surfaces of these holes, to thereby contactpyrolyze the PCBs-gasified gas.

[0116] An arrangement is also possible wherein, as shown in FIG. 9, thePCBs-gasified gas is introduced inside a circular pipe, then exhaustedfrom holes provided on the outer circumferential surface of thiscircular pipe, and then exhausted through slits provided on the outercircumferential surface of a cylinder that houses the circular pipe tosuccessively perform contact pyrolysis and pyrolysis by radiant heat ofthe PCBs-gasified gas.

[0117] The method of configuring pyrolysis means 3 is not restricted inparticular as long as the configuration is one by which thePCBs-gasified gas can be decomposed without fail and pyrolysis means 3may be provided solitarily or in a plurality of serial or parallelstages.

[0118] In the case where the heating unit 30 equipped with decomposingpart 32, which is shown in FIG. 6A, is used as the heating unit ofpyrolysis means 3, a preferable method of configuring pyrolysis means 3is to dispose two or more stages of pyrolysis means 3 a and 3 b,equipped with the same heating units 30, in series. This is because inthis case, the flow of the PCBs-gasified gas inside pyrolysis means 3becomes a turbulent flow and the probability of the gas molecules of thePCBs-gasified gas contacting the heating unit is thus increased.

[0119] The trapping means 4 of this invention's organohalogen compounddecomposition treatment device 1 traps decomposition products (halogens,carbon content, etc.,) contained in the decomposition gas resulting frompyrolysis of the PCBs-gasified gas at the above-described pyrolysismeans.

[0120] This trapping means 4 includes a dry trap 40 and wet trap 41.

[0121] The dry trap 40 of this trapping means 4 is formed by filling acircular pipe with a filler and the decomposition products contained inthe above mentioned decomposition gas are adsorbed and trapped onto thisfiller. Examples of a filler that can be used include steel wool,activated carbon, nickel chips, etc.

[0122] With the present embodiment, nickel chips are used as the filler,and in this case, the carbon content in the above mentioneddecomposition gas is adsorbed and recovered mainly as soot (carbonpowder) by the catalytic action of nickel.

[0123] This dry trap 40 is interposed between the above-describedpyrolysis means 3 and a butterfly valve 45 of the below-describedpressure differential generating means 5.

[0124] The above mentioned wet trap 41 of trapping means 4 traps, insidea liquid, the decomposition products contained in the above mentioneddecomposition gas that could not be eliminated completely by theabove-described dry trap 40.

[0125] To be more specific, the decomposition gas, which has beenrapidly cooled in the process of passage through the below-describedpressure differential generating means 5, is lead through an atmospherein which an aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide is made into a mist torecover the halogens in the decomposition gas as salts and the carboncontent as soot (carbon powder). When the content of halogens containedin the above mentioned decomposition gas can be presumed to be low, anarrangement is also possible wherein water is used in place of the abovementioned aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide.

[0126] This wet trap 41 is interposed between a filter 43 to bedescribed below and vacuum pump 42, which is the pressure reducing means6.

[0127] The organohalogen compound decomposition treatment device 1 ofthe present embodiment is of an arrangement equipped with thebelow-described pressure differential generating means 5. Wet trap 41 isthus positioned at the downstream side of pressure differentialgenerating means 5. Thus in the case of a device arrangement wherein theabove mentioned pressure differential generating means 5 is notequipped, the wet trap 41 may be connected directly to the downstreamside of the above-described dry trap 40.

[0128] Also, the salts and carbon powder recovered in aqueous solutionby wet trap 41 are separated and recovered at a waste liquid treatmentdevice (not shown). After separation of the salts and carbon powder, theaqueous solution of sodium hydroxide is arranged to be reused in wettrap 41 upon being adjusted to a predetermined concentration by additionof sodium hydroxide anew at a concentration adjustment device (notshown).

[0129] Thus by there being provided the dry trap 40 and wet trap 41 oftrapping means 4, the decomposition products inside the above mentioneddecomposition gas are not released to the exterior of organohalogencompound decomposition treatment device 1.

[0130] The pressure differential generating means 5 of this invention'sorganohalogen compound decomposition treatment device 1 makes the partfrom the above mentioned gasifying means 2, through pyrolysis means 3,and to trapping means 4 a closed system, isolates a part of theabove-described trapping means 4 in this closed system to form anisolated part, and cools this isolated part to generate a pressuredifferential between the isolated part and non-isolated part inside theclosed system.

[0131] This pressure differential generating means 5 comprises abutterfly valve 45, a vacuum valve 46, a piping 47, which connects theabove mentioned butterfly valve 45 with vacuum valve 46, and a jackettype cooling pipe 48, which is provided for cooling the interior ofpiping 47.

[0132] By closing, the vacuum valve 46 of this pressure differentialgenerating means 5 makes the part from the above-described gasifyingmeans 2, through pyrolysis means 3, and to vacuum valve 46 a closedsystem.

[0133] By closing, the butterfly valve 45 of this pressure differentialgenerating means 5 isolates the piping from butterfly valve 45 to theabove-described vacuum valve 46 inside the closed system formed by theabove mentioned vacuum valve 46, thereby forming the isolated part.

[0134] By passage of liquid nitrogen or other coolant through itsinterior, the cooling pipe 48 of pressure differential generating means5 rapidly cools the interior of piping 47, that is, the isolated partformed by the above mentioned butterfly valve 45 and vacuum valve 46.

[0135] Thus at pressure differential generating means 5, by rapidlycooling the above mentioned isolated part, in other words, the interiorof piping 47, a pressure differential is generated between the isolatedpart and non-isolated part of the above mentioned closed system.

[0136] Thus when in the condition where a pressure differential has beengenerated, the butterfly valve 45 of pressure differential generatingmeans 5 is opened and the isolated part and non-isolated part are put incommunication, the PCBs-gasified gas that had been generated at theabove-described gasifying means 2 is sucked in due to the pressuredifferential and is guided to the downstream side (pyrolysis means 3 andtrapping means 4) of gasifying means 2.

[0137] This pressure differential generating means 5 thus performs thesame function as the vacuum pump 42 of pressure reducing means 6 to bedescribed later.

[0138] By thus guiding the PCBs-gasified gas by means of pressuredifferential generating means 5, all of the treatment of PCBs in thisorganohalogen compound decomposition treatment device 1 are carried outwithin a closed system.

[0139] Thus even if undecomposed PCBs-gasified gas or other hazardoussubstances are generated, these will not leak out to the exterior oforganohalogen compound decomposition treatment device 1.

[0140] In addition to the above actions and effects, the rapid coolingof the interior of the above mentioned piping 47 in pressuredifferential generating means 5 provides the following effect.

[0141] That is, since the decomposition gas, which could not be trappedfully by the dry trap 40 positioned upstream the pressure differentialgenerating means 5, is rapidly cooled at the above mentioned piping 47,the effect of preventing the generation of carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)due to recombination of the decomposition products contained in thedecomposition gas is provided.

[0142] Also, for more efficient cooling of the above mentioneddecomposition gas inside this piping 47, a plurality of fins 44 may beprovided in a detachable manner inside piping 47 to increase the area ofcontact with the above mentioned decomposition gas, and these fins 44may also be arranged to adsorb and recover the above mentioneddecomposition gas.

[0143] Here, various materials may be used as the material of fins 44.Examples include stainless steel, nickel alloy, etc. When a nickel alloyis used, more of the decomposition products in the decomposition gaswill be adsorbed as carbon due to the catalytic effect of nickel. Anickel alloy is thus preferable as the material of fins 44.

[0144] Also, the method of rapidly cooling the above mentioned piping 47is not restricted in particular as long as it is a method by which anegative pressure can be generated within the device by the rapidcooling of the interior of piping 47.

[0145] Also, the pressure reducing means 6 of this invention'sorganohalogen compound decomposition treatment device 1 forms a reducedpressure atmosphere at a part extending from the above mentionedgasifying means 2 to trapping means 4 and replaces the interior of lowerchamber 10 of the above-described gasifying means 2 with inert gas.

[0146] To be more specific, pressure reducing means 6 is a vacuum pump42, and this vacuum pump 42 has one end connected via vacuum valve 46 toa stage downstream the above-described pressure difference generatingmeans 5 and has the other end connected to wet trap 41 to form a reducedpressure atmosphere inside this invention's organohalogen compounddecomposition treatment device 1 and replace the interior of theabove-described lower chamber 10 with inert gas.

[0147] A filter 43, filled with activated carbon, is connected to thedownstream side of the above-described trapping means 4 in order to makethe exhaust gas that is generated during operation of theabove-described vacuum pump 42 be exhausted outside the device afterbeing treated completely of the impurities, etc., in the exhaust gas(see FIG. 3).

[0148] This invention's organohalogen compound decomposition treatmentmethod shall now be described.

[0149] The treated object P, which has been carried inside lower chamber10 of gasifying means 2 via carry-in entrance 15 in the condition whereit is contained in the above-described heating container 12, is firstsubject to nitrogen replacement inside the above-described lower chamber10 and is thereafter sent to the inner side of high-frequency coil 24disposed inside upper chamber 11. Treated object P is then melted byinduction heating by high frequency under a negative pressure or reducedpressure atmosphere. In this process, the PCBs contained in the treatedobject P are gasified and PCBs-gasified gas is thus generated (gasifyingstep).

[0150] Since the interior of this invention's organohalogen compounddecomposition treatment device 1 is maintained at a negative pressure orreduced pressure atmosphere, the PCBs-gasified gas that has beengenerated inside the above-described gasifying means 2 is sucked towardsthe pyrolysis means 3 that is positioned at a stage downstream thegasifying means 2. The PCBs-gasified gas that has been supplied intopyrolysis means 3 is pyrolyzed into decomposition gas, comprisinghalogens and carbon, upon contact with the heating unit 30, which isdisposed inside pyrolysis means 3 and has been heated by microwave,etc., to a temperature at which PCBs are pyrolyzed, and is alsopyrolyzed by the radiant heat in the process of passing through the gapsinside heating unit 30 (pyrolysis process).

[0151] The decomposition gas that has been generated at theabove-described pyrolysis means 3 is supplied to the trapping means 4that is positioned at the downstream side of pyrolysis means 3. At drytrap 40, which is disposed at an upstream stage of trapping means 4 andis filled with nickel chips, the carbon content in the decomposition gasis trapped as soot (carbon powder) by the catalytic action of nickel.The decomposition gas that could not be captured by this dry trap 40 israpidly cooled at the pressure differential generating means 5, disposedat a downstream stage, to restrain the generation of carbontetrachloride from the decomposition gas. Then by passage through a mistof an aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide, which has been adjusted to apredetermined concentration, in wet trap 6 that is positioned at a stagefurther downstream, the chlorine in the decomposition gas is recoveredas sodium chloride salt and the carbon content is recovered as carbon(trapping step).

[0152] (Second Embodiment)

[0153] A second embodiment of this invention shall now be described withreference to the attached drawings.

[0154] This invention's gaseous organohalogen compound decompositiontreatment device is a device that pyrolyzes and renders harmlesshazardous gases, such as organohalogen compounds supplied in the gaseousstate, by high frequency induction heating.

[0155] A liquid organohalogen compound decomposition treatment device isa device that heats organohalogen compounds of liquid form to convertthese compounds once into gaseous organohalogen compounds and rendersthese gaseous organohalogen compounds harmless by pyrolyzing thecompounds by heating.

[0156]FIG. 10 is a schematic arrangement diagram of this invention'sgaseous organohalogen compound decomposition treatment device 201. FIGS.11A and 11B are both sectional views of the principal parts of thisinvention's gaseous organohalogen compound decomposition treatmentdevice 201.

[0157] This gaseous organohalogen compound decomposition treatmentdevice 201 comprises a gas introduction means 202, pyrolysis means 203,heating means 204, and gas exhausting means 205.

[0158] The gas introduction means 202 of gaseous organohalogen compounddecomposition treatment device 201 guides gaseous PCBs and other varioushazardous gases (shall be referred to hereinafter as “treated gas”) tothe pyrolysis means 203, which shall be described later.

[0159] As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, with the present embodiment, gasintroduction means 202 is a circular pipe 210 of predetermined length,and the treated gas is passed into the hole 211 of this circular pipe210 and guided into the interior of a cylinder 212 of the pyrolysismeans 203, which shall be described later.

[0160] The material that makes up this circular pipe 210 is notrestricted in particular as long as it is a material having suchcharacteristics as being high in heat resistance, low in expansion andcontraction due to heat, and not readily heated by induction. In thepresent embodiment, alumina is used.

[0161] Also, the diameter of circular pipe 210 may be selected as suitedin accordance to the size of gaseous organohalogen compounddecomposition treatment device 201 and the treatment amount of thetreated gas. In the present embodiment, a circular pipe 210 of φ28 mm isused.

[0162] The pyrolysis means 203 of gaseous organohalogen compounddecomposition treatment device 201 applies the two pyrolysis stages ofcontact pyrolysis by contact with a heating unit and pyrolysis byradiant heat by passage through holes (slits 214) formed in the heatingunit to the treated gas introduced by the above-described gasintroduction means 202 to convert the treated gas to a harmless gaseoussubstance.

[0163] The above mentioned heating unit of this embodiment is cylinder212, which is sealed at both ends (see FIGS. 10 to 11B). Circular pipe210, which is the above-described gas introduction means 202, isinserted into one end face of cylinder 212 and the tip of the insertedcircular pipe 210 is positioned so as to face the other end side of theinterior of cylinder 212.

[0164] At the outer circumferential surface of cylinder 212 at the oneend side into which the above-described circular pipe 210 is inserted, aplurality of slits 214, which put the interior and exterior of cylinder212 in communication, are provided from one end side towards the otherend side of cylinder 212.

[0165] These slits 214 are provided at two parts at positions that arepoint symmetric with respect to the central part of cylinder 212 (seeFIG. 11A).

[0166] The treated gas that has been supplied to this heating unit isthus always supplied to the other end side of the interior of theabove-described cylinder 212. The treated gas that has been guided tothe other end side of the interior of cylinder 212 flows inside thecylinder 212 and moves from the other end side to the one end side atwhich the above mentioned slits 214 are provided and are exhausted tothe exterior of cylinder 212 by passage through these slits 214.

[0167] Here, since the cylinder 212 is heated by the heating means 204to be described later, the treated gas that has been guided insidecylinder 212 contacts the inner wall surface of the heated cylinder 212and becomes pyrolyzed in the process of moving inside cylinder 212 tothe side (one end side) at which the above-described slits 214 areprovided. Also, even if the treated gas does not contact the inner wallsurface of cylinder 212, since the slits 214 provided in cylinder 212are heated to a high temperature due to the reasons given below, thetreated gas is decomposed by radiant heat in the process of passagethrough the slits 214.

[0168] Treated gas is thus not exhausted from slits 214 of cylinder 212but only decomposition gas, which has been decomposed to a harmlessstate, is exhausted from slits 214.

[0169] Here, the diameter of cylinder 212 may be selected as suited inaccordance to the size of the device and treatment amount of treatedgas. In the present embodiment, a cylinder 212 of φ35 mm is used.

[0170] Also, the material that makes up the heating unit may be selectedas suited from tungsten, molybdenum, nickel, and alloys thereof,stainless steel, or a heat-resistant steel such as incoloy, etc.

[0171] The use of molybdenum for the heating unit provides suchadvantages of molybdenum as having a heat resistance temperature of2800° C. and thus being better in heat resistance in comparison to othermaterials and providing white light upon being heated and being high inenergy density, thereby enabling decomposition of the treated gas byradiant heat even if contact is not made.

[0172] Also, when incoloy, which is a nickel alloy, is used for theheating unit, the advantage that the organic substances in the treatedgas that contacts the heating unit are converted into and recovered ascarbon by the catalytic action of nickel is provided.

[0173] Thus it is more preferable to use incoloy than stainless steeland more preferable to use molybdenum than incoloy as the material thatmakes up the heating unit.

[0174] Also, the number and slit width of the slits 214 provided incylinder 212 may be selected as suited. With the present embodiment, theslit width is 2 mm.

[0175] With the present embodiment, a high-frequency coil 215, which isthe heating means 204, is provided at a position that is separated fromthe outer circumferential surface of the heating unit by a predetermineddistance as shown in FIG. 10. Thus when a high-frequency current is madeto flow through high-frequency coil 215 for heating the heating unit, aneddy current arises on the outer circumferential surface of cylinder 212of the heating unit.

[0176] In this process, since a current cannot flow at the slit 214parts, current becomes concentrated at the respective parts betweenslits 214 (these parts shall be referred to hereinafter as “outercircumference parts 216”). As a result, the outer circumference parts216 become heated to a higher temperature than other parts of cylinder212. The spaces inside the slits 214 thus become high temperature bodiesas well.

[0177] Thus even if the treated gas is guided to these slits 214 withoutcontacting the inner wall surface of the above-described cylinder 212,the treated gas will be pyrolyzed without fail by the radiant heat inthe process of passage through slits 214.

[0178] Furthermore, a rifling 217 may be provided on the inner wallsurface of cylinder 212 from the other end side towards the one end sideof cylinder 212 as shown in FIG. 11B. In this case, the treated gas thathas been supplied to the other end side of cylinder 212 will be guidedto slits 214 provided at the one end side while being stirred inspiraling manner by the existence of rifling 217. The chances of contactof the treated gas with cylinder 212 is thus increased and the treatedgas is contact pyrolyzed more efficiently.

[0179] The heating means 204 of this gaseous organohalogen compounddecomposition treatment device 201 heats the above-described pyrolysismeans 203.

[0180] This heating means 204 comprises an alumina chamber 218, whichhouses the above-described pyrolysis means 203 in its interior, and ahigh-frequency coil 215, which is wound in spiraling manner from one endside towards the other end side of alumina chamber 218 at a positionseparated from the outer circumferential surface of alumina chamber 218by a predetermined distance (see FIGS. 10 and 11).

[0181] This high-frequency coil 215 is connected to a current controlledtype high-frequency power supply (not shown). Thus by changing the powerthat is made to flow through high-frequency coil 215, the pyrolysismeans 203 housed inside the above mentioned alumina chamber 218 isinduction heated and thus heated as suited to a desired temperature.

[0182] The gas exhausting means 205 of this gaseous organohalogencompound decomposition treatment device 201 guides the treated gas intothe above-described pyrolysis means 203 and makes the decomposition gas,formed by decomposition of the treated gas at pyrolysis means 203, beexhausted from the above-described pyrolysis means 203.

[0183] In the present embodiment, this gas exhausting means 205 is ageneral vacuum pump (not shown) that is connected via a piping to thedownstream side of the above-described pyrolysis means 203.

[0184] This vacuum pump sucks in the treated gas via circular pipe 210of the above-described gas introduction means 202 and guides the treatedgas into cylinder 212 of the above-described pyrolysis means 203. Thevacuum pump then sucks out and makes the decomposition gas, which arisesfrom the pyrolysis of the treated gas inside cylinder 212 and/or in theprocess of passage through the slits 214 provided in cylinder 212, beexhausted to the downstream side of pyrolysis means 203.

[0185] If necessary, a trapping means, which recovers decompositionproducts contained in the above mentioned decomposition gas byadsorption or reaction, may be provided between gas exhausting means 205and the above-described pyrolysis means 203.

[0186] (Third Embodiment)

[0187] A second mode of the above-described pyrolysis means 203 and gasintroduction means 202 shall now be described with reference to FIG. 12.

[0188] Parts that are in common to those of gaseous organohalogencompound decomposition treatment device 201 of the above-describedsecond embodiment shall be provided with the same symbols anddescriptions thereof shall be omitted.

[0189] A gaseous organohalogen compound decomposition treatment device220, which is a third embodiment of this invention, comprises a gasintroduction means 202 a, pyrolysis means 203 a, and a heating means 204as the principal components, and is furthermore equipped with a gasexhausting means 205 (not shown) at the downstream side.

[0190] Here, the heating means 204 and gas exhausting means 205 (notshown) of this gaseous organohalogen compound decomposition treatmentdevice 220 are the same in arrangement as those of the above-describedgaseous organohalogen compound decomposition treatment device 201, andthus descriptions thereof shall be omitted.

[0191] The heating unit of pyrolysis means 203 a of the present gaseousorganohalogen compound decomposition treatment device 220 is a cylinder222, which is sealed at both ends (see FIG. 12).

[0192] Inside this cylinder 222, a circular pipe 223, which is the gasintroduction means 202 a, is passed through from one end face towardsthe other end face.

[0193] A plurality of exhaust holes 224 are provided on the outercircumferential surface at parts of circular pipe 223 that arepositioned inside the above mentioned cylinder 222. A plurality of slits214, which put the interior and exterior of cylinder 222 incommunication, are provided on the outer circumferential surface ofcylinder 222 through which circular pipe 223 is inserted. The downstreamend of circular pipe 223 is sealed.

[0194] The treated gas that is supplied to this heating unit is thussupplied into the above mentioned cylinder 222 from the exhaust holes224 provided on the outer circumferential surface of the above mentionedcircular pipe 223. The treated gas that has been supplied into thiscylinder 222 is then exhausted to the exterior of cylinder 222 uponpassage through the slits 214 that are provided on the outercircumferential surface of cylinder 222.

[0195] Here, since cylinder 222 is heated by heating means 204, thetreated gas that has been guided inside cylinder 222 is decomposed bycontact with the inner wall surface of the heated cylinder 222 in theprocess of moving inside cylinder 222 towards the side of the abovementioned slits 214. Also, even if the treated gas does not contact theinner wall surface of cylinder 222, it is pyrolyzed by radiant heat inthe process of passage through the slits 214 that are provided incylinder 222.

[0196] Treated gas will thus not be exhausted from the slits 214 ofcylinder 222 but only the decomposition gas that has been decomposed toa harmless state is exhausted and the decomposition treatment of thetreated gas is thus accomplished.

[0197] Here, the diameter and material of cylinder 222 and the numberand slit width of slits 214 may be determined as suited in the samemanner as in the first embodiment.

[0198] Furthermore, a rifling 217 may be provided on the inner wallsurface of cylinder 222 in order to perform efficient stirring of thetreated gas.

[0199] Also, with regard to the positional relationship of the exhaustholes 224 provided in the above mentioned circular pipe 223 and theslits 214 provided in cylinder 222, exhaust holes 224 and slits 214 arepreferably shifted with respect to each other so that the treated gasthat is exhausted from the above mentioned exhaust holes 224 will not beexhausted directly from slits 214. With the present embodiment, slits214 are provided at positions shifted by 90° with respect to exhaustholes 224 (see FIG. 12B).

[0200] A fourth embodiment of the above-described pyrolysis means 203and gas introduction means 202 shall now be described with reference toFIG. 13.

[0201] A gaseous organohalogen compound decomposition treatment device230, which is a fourth embodiment of this invention, comprises a gasintroduction means 202 b, pyrolysis means 203 b, and a heating means 204as the principal components, and is furthermore equipped with a gasexhausting means 205 (not shown) at the downstream side.

[0202] Here, the heating means 204 and gas exhausting means 205 are thesame in arrangement as those of the above-described gaseousorganohalogen compound decomposition treatment device 201, and thusdescriptions thereof shall be omitted.

[0203] The gas introduction means 202 b and pyrolysis means 203 b ofthis gaseous organohalogen compound decomposition treatment device 230are respectively housed inside a casing 231.

[0204] This casing 231 comprises a cylindrical outer cylinder part 232and lids 233, which are screwed onto the ends of outer cylinder part 232by means of screws 234.

[0205] Inside this casing 231, an alumina chamber 235 with a cylindricalshape is housed in a manner whereby it is clamped by the above mentionedlids 233 via O-rings 236 that are provided at both ends.

[0206] A circular pipe 202 b, for introducing the treated gas insidethis gaseous organohalogen compound decomposition treatment device 230,is inserted into the upstream side of casing 231, and the tip of thiscircular pipe 202 b is fitted into an indented part 238 of an upstreamside protrusion 237 that is protruded inwards at the upstream side ofthe above mentioned alumina chamber 235.

[0207] Meanwhile at the downstream side of this casing 231 is insertedan exhaust pipe 239, which exhausts, from casing 231, the decompositiongas resulting from the decomposition of the treated gas, and the tip ofthis exhaust pipe 239 is fitted into an indented part 241 of adownstream side protrusion 240 that is protruded inwards at thedownstream side of the above mentioned alumina chamber 235.

[0208] Between the upstream side protrusion 237 and downstream sideprotrusion 240 of the above mentioned alumina chamber 235, a cylinder242, which is the pyrolysis means 203 b, is clamped by the upstream sideprotrusion 237 and downstream side protrusion 240. Inside this cylinder242 is provided a partition wall 243, which partitions the space insidethis cylinder 242 into an upstream side hollow part 244 and a downstreamside hollow part 245.

[0209] Slits 214 a and slits 214 b, which put the interior and exteriorof cylinder 242 in communication, are provided in plurality on the outerperipheral surfaces of cylinder 242 at positions corresponding toupstream side hollow part 244 and downstream side hollow part 245,respectively.

[0210] A communicating space 246, which puts the above mentionedupstream side hollow part 244 and the downstream side hollow part 245 incommunication, is formed between the part surrounded by the upstreamside protrusion 237 and downstream side protrusion 240 of the abovementioned alumina chamber 235 and the outer peripheral surface ofcylinder 242.

[0211] Here, cylinder 242 is induction heated by a high-frequency coil215 of the above mentioned heating means 204 and a flow of gas from theupstream side to the downstream side of cylinder 242 is caused by thegas exhausting means 205 (not shown).

[0212] The treated gas, which has been introduced inside this gaseousorganohalogen compound decomposition treatment device 230 throughcircular pipe 202 b, is first subject to contact pyrolysis by contactwith the inner wall of upstream side hollow part 244 and partition wall243 of cylinder 242 and is then pyrolyzed by radiant heat in the processof being guided into communicating space 246 upon passage through theslits 214 a provided at the upstream side hollow part 244.

[0213] The treated gas is then passed from the interior of communicatingspace 246, through slits 214 b, and into the downstream side hollow part245.

[0214] Thus even if undecomposed treated gas is contained in the gasthat is guided from the above mentioned upstream side hollow part 244into this communicating space 246, this undecomposed treated gas willhave the opportunity of being subject again to pyrolysis by radiant heatand contact pyrolysis by contact with the inner wall surface ofdownstream side hollow part 245.

[0215] As a result, the gas resulting from the gasification of halogencompounds is decomposed into harmless decomposition gas without fail.

[0216] At the outer circumferential surface parts of the above-describedguiding pipe 202 b at positions housed inside the above mentionedalumina chamber 235 are provided communicating holes 247 for putting theinterior and exterior of guide pipe 202 b in communication. Furthermore,exhaust holes 248, which put the interior and exterior of the abovementioned alumina chamber 235 in communication, are provided at theupstream side of alumina chamber 235.

[0217] Thus when a flow of gas from the upstream side to the downstreamside of this gaseous organohalogen compound decomposition treatmentdevice 230 is caused by operation of a vacuum pump (not shown) of apressure reducing means 4 that is positioned at the downstream side ofgaseous organohalogen compound decomposition treatment device 230, thegas inside a space 249 between the outer circumferential surface ofalumina chamber 235 and housing 231 is sucked in and the interior ofspace 249 is kept under a reduced pressure atmosphere.

[0218] Since high-frequency coil 215 of heating means 204 is housedinside this space 249, the maintaining of the interior of this space 249under a reduced pressure atmosphere leads to the prevention of thedegradation of the high-frequency coil 215 by oxidation.

[0219] Also, since the interior of space 249 is kept under a reducedpressure atmosphere, the heat that is applied to the above mentionedpyrolysis means 203 b that is heated by high-frequency coil 215 willalso not be emitted to the exterior of casing 231 by heat transfer. Allheat can thus be used to heat cylinder 242 of the above-describedpyrolysis means 203 b without giving rise to heat loss.

[0220] A liquid organohalogen compound decomposition treatment device250, which applies this invention's gaseous organohalogen compounddecomposition treatment device shall now be described. FIG. 14 is aschematic arrangement diagram of liquid organohalogen compounddecomposition treatment device 250, which applies this invention'sgaseous organohalogen compound decomposition treatment device.

[0221] This liquid organohalogen compound decomposition treatment device250 comprises a storage means 251, discharge means 252, gasifying means253, decomposition treatment means 254, trapping means 255, and pressurereducing means 256 as the principal components.

[0222] The storage means 251 of this liquid organohalogen compounddecomposition treatment device 250 stores liquid PCBs.

[0223] This storage means 251 comprises a slide gate valve 260, a firststorage tank 261, and a second storage tank 262.

[0224] The slide gate valve 260 of this storage means 251 is interposedbetween the above mentioned first storage tank 261 and a funnel-shapedloading entrance 263, and after the loading of liquid PCBs into firststorage tank 261 has been completed, slide gate valve 260 is closed toprevent the mixing of excess air into first storage tank 261.

[0225] First storage tank 261 is disposed at the lower side of the abovementioned slide gate valve 260 and stores the liquid PCBs that have beenloaded via the above mentioned slide gate valve 260.

[0226] Second storage tank 262 is disposed at the lower side of theabove mentioned first storage tank 261 with a supply valve 264 providedin between and stores the liquid PCBs discharged from the abovementioned first storage tank 261 under a reduced pressure atmosphere.

[0227] The reduced pressure atmosphere inside this second storage tank262 is formed by a vacuum pump 293, of the below-described pressurereducing means 256, that exhausts the air, which has been guided intosecond storage tank 262 along with the liquid PCBs in the process ofsupplying the liquid PCBs, via an evacuation piping 265 provided at anupper part of second storage tank 262.

[0228] Also, the opening and closing of the supply valve 264 interposedbetween first storage tank 261 and second storage tank 262 is performedas suited based on detection results obtained by detection of the amountof liquid PCBs stored in second storage tank 262 by means of upper limitliquid level sensor 266 and lower limit liquid level sensor 267 providedinside second storage tank 262.

[0229] Likewise, the opening and closing of the above mentioned slidegate valve 260 is performed as suited based on the detection result of aliquid level sensor 268 provided inside the above mentioned firststorage tank 261.

[0230] Storage means 251 thus prevents the lowering of the degree ofreduced pressure inside the liquid organohalogen compound decompositiontreatment device 250 due to the mixing in of air into the downstreamside of storage means 251 (the parts from gasifying means 253 totrapping means 255) in the process of decomposition treatment of liquidPCBs. That is, a structure with which the atmospheric system and areduced pressure system are sealed by a liquid is formed.

[0231] The discharge means 252 of this liquid organohalogen compounddecomposition treatment device 250 supplies a predetermined amount at atime of the liquid PCBs stored in second storage tank 262 of theabove-described storage means 251 into a liquid supply pipe 270 of thegasifying means 253 to be described later.

[0232] Here with the present embodiment, a needle valve 269 is used asthis discharge means 252.

[0233] With this needle valve 269, the degree of opening of needle valve269 is determined based on the measurement value, etc., of a pressuresensor 277, provided inside a treatment chamber 273 of thebelow-described gasifying means 253, to drip the liquid PCBs into liquidsupply pipe 270 of the below-described gasifying means 253 at apredetermined rate and amount.

[0234] Thus by the existence of this discharge means 252, an amount ofliquid PCBs that is optimal for the gasification of liquid PCBs insidethe below-described gasifying means 253 is supplied at all times.

[0235] The gasifying means 253 of this liquid organohalogen compounddecomposition treatment device 250 is a device that heats the liquidPCBs that are supplied via the above-described discharge means 252 fromwithin the above-described storage means 251 and thereby gasifies theliquid PCBs to gaseous PCBs (see FIG. 11).

[0236] This gasifying means 253 comprises a liquid supply pipe 270,gasification cylinder 271, heating part 272, and treatment chamber 273.

[0237] The liquid supply pipe 270 of gasifying means 253 introduces theliquid PCBs, which have been discharged from the above-described storagemeans 251 by the above-described discharge means 252, into gasificationcylinder 271 of gasifying means 253.

[0238] With the present embodiment, a circular pipe is used as thisliquid supply pipe 270 and the upper end of liquid supply pipe 270 isconnected to the discharge port (not shown) of the above-describeddischarge means 252, the lower end is inserted into gasificationcylinder 271, and the tip of this liquid supply pipe 270 extends to thelower part of the interior of gasification cylinder 271.

[0239] In order to prevent detachment from the above-described dischargemeans 252 due to expansion and shrinkage by heating and cooling and toprevent breakage of liquid supply pipe 270, liquid supply pipe 270 isarranged from alumina, which is excellent in heat resistant and low inexpansion and shrinkage due to heat.

[0240] This liquid supply pipe 270 is constantly heated to a hightemperature by the heating part 272 to be described later and isconstantly placed under a reduced pressure atmosphere by the operationof vacuum pump 293, which is the below-described pressure reducing means256 of this liquid organohalogen compound decomposition treatment device250.

[0241] The liquid PCBs that has been dripped or sprayed into liquidsupply pipe 270 is heated in the process of falling freely from theupper part to lower part of the interior of liquid supply pipe 270 andmost of the liquid PCBs is thus converted to gaseous PCBs.

[0242] Since the air inside treatment chamber 273, in which liquidsupply pipe 270 is housed, is constantly drawn by vacuum pump 293 of thebelow-described pressure reducing means 256, the gaseous PCBs and liquidPCBs are sucked out towards the inner side of gasifying cylinder 271into which liquid supply pipe 270 is inserted.

[0243] This gasifying cylinder 271 of gasifying means 253 exposes theliquid PCBs and gaseous PCBs supplied via the above-described liquidsupply pipe 270 to a heated environment and thereby gasifies all of thePCBs to gaseous PCBs.

[0244] This gasifying cylinder 271 has the shape of a cylinder with bothends closed and the above-described liquid supply pipe 270 is insertedfrom the one end side at the upper side (see FIG. 11).

[0245] This gasifying cylinder 271 is set on the upper surface of analumina pedestal 274, which is disposed inside the treatment chamber 273that houses gasifying cylinder 271, and on the outer peripheral surfaceof gasifying cylinder 271, a plurality of slits 275, which put theinterior and exterior of gasifying cylinder 271 in communication, areprovided along the circumferential direction from the central part toupper part of gasifying cylinder 271.

[0246] As with the above-described liquid supply pipe 270, gasifyingcylinder 271 is also heated by the heating part 272 to be describedlater. The gaseous PCBs that have been sucked out from theabove-described liquid supply pipe 270 are thus decomposed by heat uponcontact with the inner wall surface of gasifying pipe 271. Meanwhile,even if gaseous PCBs are guided to slits 275 without contacting theinner wall surface of the gasifying part, the gaseous PCBs will bedecomposed by heat in the process of passage through the slits 275.

[0247] However, since the present embodiment is arranged to gasifyliquid PCBs at the above-described liquid supply pipe 270 and gasifyingcylinder 271, the heat inside liquid supply pipe 270 and gasifying pipe271 is taken up when the liquid PCBs are gasified.

[0248] The existence of gaseous PCBs that are lead to the downstreamside of gasifying means 253 without being decomposed inside gasifyingcylinder 271 may thus be of concern. Thus with this embodiment's liquidorganohalogen compound decomposition treatment device 250, theabove-described gaseous organohalogen compound decomposition treatmentdevice 201 is disposed as the decomposition treatment means 254 at thedownstream side of gasifying means 253 in order to assure completedecomposition treatment of the gaseous PCBs.

[0249] The heating part 272 of gasifying means 253 heats liquid supplypipe 270 and gasifying cylinder 271.

[0250] Heating part 272 comprises a high-frequency coil 276. Thishigh-frequency coil 276 is disposed at a position separated from theouter circumferential surfaces of the above-described liquid supply pipe270 and gasifying cylinder 271 in a manner whereby it spirals downwardfrom the upper side. High-frequency coil 276 is connected to anunillustrated high-frequency power supply and heats gasifying cylinder271 and liquid supply pipe 270 as suited to a desired temperature.

[0251] The treatment chamber 273 of gasifying means 253 houses liquidsupply pipe 270, gasifying cylinder 271, and heating part 272. Theinterior of this treatment chamber 273 is maintained constantly under areduced pressure atmosphere by vacuum pump 293 of the below-describedpressure reducing means 256.

[0252] Treatment chamber 273 is equipped with a pressure sensor 277,which measures the pressure inside treatment chamber 273, and a rupturedisc 300, which functions as a pressure release valve 278.

[0253] This pressure release valve 278 opens to release the pressureinside treatment chamber 273 when a large amount of gas that exceeds theevacuation capacity of vacuum pump 293 of the below-described pressurereducing means 256 is generated in treatment chamber 273 and theinterior of treatment chamber 273 is put in a pressurized state.

[0254] When the pressure inside treatment chamber 273 is released bypressure release valve 278, the gaseous PCBs inside treatment chamber273 will be released into the atmosphere. Thus in order to prevent therelease of PCBs into the atmosphere, a trap 303, which is shown in FIG.16, is preferably provided.

[0255] This trap device is connected via a piping 301 to theabove-described treatment chamber 273 and a vacuum pump 304, whichcreates a reduced pressure environment inside the trap via a valve, isprovided at the downstream side of the trap.

[0256] Since the interior of trap 303 is constantly maintained in areduced pressure state by vacuum pump 304, when the pressure releasevalve 278 of the above-described treatment chamber 273 is opened,pressure is absorbed within the space extending from piping 301 to trap303.

[0257] A cooling pipe 302, through which liquid nitrogen or othersuitable coolant is passed through, is provided inside trap 303 and onthe outer peripheral surface of piping 301. This cooling pipe 302 isdisposed in a meandering manner inside trap 303 and is provided withfins, for efficient cooling of the interior of trap 303, on the outerperipheral surface of the part of cooling pipe 302 that is positionedinside trap 303.

[0258] Thus by passing a coolant through cooling pipe 302, thehigh-temperature gas that is discharged from within the above-describedtreatment chamber 273 is cooled rapidly and the volume of the gas isreduced. As a result, the breakage of trap 303 and piping 301 isprevented and the discharge of PCBs outside the device is prevented.

[0259] The decomposition treatment means 254 of liquid organohalogencompound decomposition treatment device 250 is connected to thedownstream side of treatment chamber 273 of the above-describedgasifying means 253 and pyrolyzes the gasified gas of PCBs that isdischarged from the aforementioned treatment chamber.

[0260] This treatment means 54 is the same in arrangement as theabove-described gaseous organohalogen compound decomposition treatmentdevice 201 and a description thereof shall thereof be omitted here.

[0261] The trapping means 255 of this liquid organohalogen compounddecomposition treatment device 250 recovers the decomposition productscontained in the decomposition gas resulting from the decomposition ofgaseous PCBs in the above-described decomposition treatment means 254.

[0262] This trapping means 255 is connected to the downstream side ofthe above-described decomposition treatment means 254 and comprises anupper chamber 281, which is equipped with a cooling plate 280, and alower chamber 282, which is connected via a gate valve 283 to the lowerside of upper chamber 281.

[0263] The cooling plate 280 provided at upper chamber 281 is arrangedfrom nickel alloy and adsorbs the high-temperature decomposition gas,which has been guided into trapping means 255, as carbon content usingthe catalytic reaction of nickel and prevents the high-temperaturedecomposition gas from being supplied directly into pressure reducingmeans 256, which is disposed at the downstream side of this trappingmeans 255.

[0264] The above-described cooling plate 280 is connected to anunillustrated cooling pipe and is constantly cooled to a low temperatureby liquid nitrogen or other coolant that is passed through this coolingpipe. The high-temperature decomposition gas that is discharged from thedecomposition treatment means 254 upstream the trapping means 255 isthereby cooled rapidly to promote the adsorption of decompositionproducts in the decomposition gas.

[0265] The method of configuring this cooling plate 280 is notrestricted in particular as long as the configuration is such that theatmosphere inside upper chamber 281 will be guided to pressure reducingmeans 256 at the downstream side after passing through the gap betweencooling plate 280 and upper chamber 281.

[0266] Lower chamber 282 is a device for recovering the decompositionproducts that have been adsorbed and trapped within upper chamber 281.An inert gas cylinder (not shown) for replacing the interior of lowerchamber 282 with argon or other inert gas and a vacuum pump 287 are thusconnected via inert gas supply piping 284 and evacuation piping 285 tothe interior of lower chamber 282.

[0267] Thus by closing the gate valve 283, which partitions lowerchamber 282 and upper chamber 281 and then supplying inert gas via theinert gas supply piping 284 that is connected to lower chamber 282 tobring the pressure inside lower chamber 282 to atmospheric pressure,carbon and other decomposition products that have been stored in lowerchamber 282 can be recovered from carbon powder take-out exit 286.

[0268] Then after removing the carbon powder from lower chamber 282 andthen bringing the interior of lower chamber 282 back to a reducedpressure atmosphere by means of the vacuum pump 287 that is connected tolower chamber 282, the above mentioned gate valve 283 is opened to putlower chamber 282 into communication with the above-described upperchamber 281 to enable carbon and other decomposition products to bestored in lower chamber 282 again.

[0269] The work of removing the carbon powder, etc., can thus beperformed without stopping this invention's liquid organohalogencompound decomposition treatment device 250.

[0270] Also in place of the above-described cooling plate 280, a cage291, filled with nickel balls 290, may be provided and the decompositiongas that is discharged from the above-described decomposition treatmentmeans 254 may be passed through the interior of this cage 291 and thendischarged from the downstream side of this trapping means 255 (see FIG.15).

[0271] With this embodiment, nickel balls 290, which have been cooled bya suitable cooling means, are arranged to be dropped intermittentlydownwards from the upper side of cage 291. In this case, thedecomposition gas that passes through cage 291 becomes attached to thesurfaces of nickel balls 290 as carbon, etc., by the catalytic action ofnickel.

[0272] And by the shaking by a vibrating screen 292, disposed at thelower side of cage 291, the carbon, etc., that have become attached tothe surfaces of nickel balls 290 are removed and recovered inside theabove-described lower chamber 282.

[0273] The nickel balls 290 from which carbon, etc., have been removedare circulated and supplied again to cage 291.

[0274] The pressure reducing means 256 of this invention's liquidorganohalogen compound decomposition treatment device 250 forciblydischarges the atmosphere inside second storage tank 262 of theabove-described storage means 251, treatment chamber 273 of theabove-described gasifying means 253, and the above-described trappingmeans 255 out of the device and forms a reduced pressure atmosphereinside this invention's liquid organohalogen compound decompositiontreatment device 250.

[0275] With the present embodiment, a vacuum pump 293 is used as thispressure reducing means 256. As with the above-described gaseousorganohalogen compound decomposition treatment device 201, a vacuum pumpthat is generally used in the present field is used as vacuum pump 293.

[0276] As shown in FIG. 17, an arrangement is also possible wherein thedecomposition treatment means 254, trapping means 255, and pressurereducing means 256 are connected further via the piping of this pressurereducing means 256 as shown in FIG. 17.

[0277] By this arrangement, when a problem occurs at any part betweengasifying means 253 and trapping means of liquid organohalogen compounddecomposition treatment device 250, the undecomposed PCB's that residesat the part between gasifying means 253 and trapping means 255 can berendered harmless.

[0278] <Operation >

[0279] The operation of this invention's liquid organohalogen compounddecomposition treatment device 250 shall now be described.

[0280] First, the slide gate valve 260 of the above-described storagemeans 251 is opened to load liquid organohalogen compounds into firststorage tank 261, and after completion of loading, slide gate valve 260is closed.

[0281] Subsequently, supply valve 264 is opened to transfer the liquidorganohalogen compounds inside the above-described first storage tank261 to second storage tank 262. The valve 279 of the evacuation piping265 that is connected to the upper face of this second storage tank 262is opened and the air inside second storage tank 262 is discharged byvacuum pump 293 to form a reduced pressure atmosphere inside secondstorage tank 262.

[0282] The needle valve 279, mounted to the lower side of second storagetank 262, is opened and the liquid organohalogen compounds stored insidesecond storage tank 262 are dripped into liquid supply pipe 270 ofgasifying means 253.

[0283] The liquid organohalogen compounds that are dripped into liquidsupply pipe 270 are heated and gasified as they drop through theinterior of liquid supply pipe 270 and most of the compounds areconverted to gaseous organohalogen compounds.

[0284] The liquid organohalogen compounds that are not gasified insideliquid supply pipe 270 are heated and gasified completely inside thegasifying cylinder 271 in which the tip part of liquid supply pipe 270is housed.

[0285] The gaseous organohalogen compounds that were generated insidethis gasifying means 253 are drawn out towards the decompositiontreatment means 254 at the downstream side by vacuum pump 293 ofpressure reducing means 256 and then passed through the interior ofcircular pipe 210 of decomposition treatment means 254 and guided tocylinder 212 (see FIGS. 11 through 14).

[0286] The gaseous organohalogen compounds that have been guided intocylinder 212 are guided to the slits 214 provided on the outercircumferential surface of cylinder 212 while being stirred in spiralingmanner by rifling 217 inside cylinder 212.

[0287] In this process, the gaseous organohalogen compounds that contactthe inner wall surface of cylinder 212 are contact pyrolyzed by heat andconverted into decomposition gas. The gaseous organohalogen compoundsthat did not make contact are decomposed to decomposition gas by radiantheat in the process of passage through slits 214.

[0288] When the decomposition gas that is then guided to the trappingmeans 255, positioned downstream the decomposition treatment means 254,contacts the cooled nickel cooling plate 280 inside trapping means 255,the decomposition gas becomes adsorbed and recovered as soot on coolingplate 280 due to the catalytic action of nickel.

[0289] (Fifth Embodiment)

[0290] An embodiment of an organohalogen compound pyrolysis treatmentdevice by this invention shall now be described with reference to theattached drawings.

[0291] As shown in FIG. 18, an organohalogen compound pyrolysistreatment device 401 by this invention comprises an introduction part402, into which dioxin-containing gas is introduced, a pyrolysis part403, which pyrolyzes the dioxin-containing gas that has been introducedinto the above mentioned introduction part 402, a discharge part 404,which discharges the pyrolysis gas resulting from the decomposition atthe above mentioned pyrolysis part 403, and an induction heating coil405, which surrounds the main body 403 a of the above mentionedpyrolysis part 403 from the exterior and heats a heating unit 403 f inthe interior, as the principal components.

[0292] Introduction part 402 comprises a dioxin-containing gasintroduction entrance 402 a and a duct 402 b, which becomes enlarged indiameter from the upstream side to the downstream side, as the principalcomponents.

[0293] A water-cooled type cooling jacket 402 c for cooling introductionpart 402 is provided at the outer circumference of duct 402 b.

[0294] A flange 402 d is provided at the large-diameter end of duct 402b and is joined by a plurality of sets of bolts B and nuts N to a flange403 b provided at an end of the below-described pyrolysis part 403.

[0295] At the interior of duct 402 b is provided a guide member 403 e,which, as shown in FIG. 19, protrudes towards the upstream side from thecentral part of a pipe supporting plate 403 c of pyrolysis part 403 toenable the dioxin-containing gas to be introduced readily into ceramicpipes 403 d. Though guide member 403 e has a conical shape in thepresent embodiment, other embodiments shall be described later.

[0296] As shown in FIG. 19, pyrolysis part 403 mainly comprises acylindrical main body 403 a, a heating unit 403 f, which is disposedsubstantially at the center of the interior of the above mentioned mainbody 403 a and has eight through holes 403 h that are positioned in theradial direction and along the inner side of the outer circumference, aplurality of ceramic pipes 403 d, which are inserted through the eightthrough holes 403 h of the above mentioned heating unit 403 f, pipesupporting plates 403 c and 403 g, which respectively support therespective ends of the above mentioned ceramic pipes 403 d, and spacers403 k and 403 l, which are for positioning the above mentioned heatingunit 403 f in the above mentioned pyrolysis part 403.

[0297] Main body 403 a is a cylindrical container made of alumina. Asshown in FIG. 18, at the outer circumferential surface of main body 403a, induction heating coil 405 for heating the heating unit 403 f isprovided in a surrounding manner.

[0298] Though with the present embodiment, alumina is used as thematerial of main body 403 a, a non-dielectric ceramic, such as silicaand SiC, may be used as a material besides alumina.

[0299] To the main body 403 a of the present embodiment is mounted asingle nozzle 403 a 1 for connecting the interior of main body 403 a viaa piping to a pressure reducing means, for example, a vacuum pump (seeFIGS. 18 and 19).

[0300] By thus arranging main body 403 a to be connected to a pressurereducing means, the interior of main body 403 a can be reduced inpressure by means of the pressure reducing means to lessen the amount ofoxygen in the air in the process of performing induction heating of theheating unit, and since the amount of consumption of the carbon or othercombusting component that makes up heating unit 403 f can thus belessened, the life of heating unit 403 f can be elongated.

[0301] As another method, another single nozzle 403 a 1 may be providedseparately, the two nozzles may be used as an entrance and exit,respectively, for a gas, nozzle 403 a 1 may be connected to an inert gaspressurizing means, for example, a gas cylinder, and induction heatingmay be performed after replacing the interior of main body 403 a withinert gas. Since there will thus be no oxygen in the air, the life ofheating unit 403 f can be elongated.

[0302] With regard to the inert gas, since nitrogen and carbon dioxideproduce nitrogen compounds and carbon compounds with ceramic materialsat high temperatures, replacement by argon gas or helium gas ispreferable.

[0303] As the material of heating unit 403 f, clay carbon, with the samecylindrical shape as a briquette, is used in the present embodiment asshown in FIG. 19. Heating unit 403 f is provided with eight throughholes 403 h that are positioned in the radial direction and along theinner side of the outer circumference.

[0304] By providing eight through holes 403 h in the radial directionand along the inner side of the outer circumference of the heating unit,since heating unit 403 f is heated from the outer side to the inner sidewhen heating unit 403 f is induction heated, the dioxin-containing gascan be made to flow immediately through the eight through holes 403 h.

[0305] Though a material, such as a dielectric ceramic, etc., may beused as the material of heating unit 403 f, the use of a carbonmaterial, such as graphite, etc., is more preferable in that the rate oftemperature rise in the heating process can be made high.

[0306] Though besides a cylindrical shape, a quadratic prism shape maybe used as the shape of heating unit 403 f, the electric current willconcentrate at the corner parts and the temperature distribution willtend to be non-uniform with a quadratic prism.

[0307] A non-dielectric material, for example, a circular pipe ofalumina is used as ceramic pipe 403 d. Silicon carbide can also be givenas a material that may be used besides alumina.

[0308] Ceramic pipes 403 d are inserted through the eight through holes403 h provided in heating unit 403 f and the ends at both sides aresupported by through holes 403H₁ and 403H₂ of the two pipe supportingplates 403 c and 403 g. Also, by reducing the cross-sectional area ofthe gas flow path inside duct 402 b by means of guide member 403 e andmaking the flow rate higher, the clogging of the interiors of ceramicpipes 403 d by uncombusted carbon and other solids can be prevented evenif such solids are contained in the dioxin-containing gas.

[0309] Pipe supporting plates 403 c and 403 g are disk-shaped platesmade of a metal, such as alumina, and respectively have eight throughholes 403H₁ and 403H₂ formed in the radial direction and along the innersides of the outer circumferences. Guide member 403 e and 403 i, whichdistribute and guide the dioxin-containing gas into the respectiveceramic pipes 403 d are provided as conical protrusions at the centralparts of pipe supporting plates 403 c and 403 g, respectively.

[0310] By providing such conical protrusions and varying thecross-sectional area of the flow path, the introduction and discharge ofthe dioxin-containing gas and pyrolysis gas can be performed favorablyinside ducts 402 b and 404 b.

[0311] With regard to the mounting position, guide member 403 i ismounted at the upstream side of pipe supporting plate 403 c atintroduction part 402 and is mounted to the downstream side of pipesupporting plate 403 g at discharge part 404. The guide member 403 i atthe discharge part 404 side may be omitted.

[0312] Spacers 403 k and 403 l comprise cylindrical pipes 403 k ₁ and403 l ₁, respectively, which are cylindrical members, and flanges 403 k₂ and 403 l ₂, respectively, and the open end parts of the abovementioned pipes 403 k ₁ and 403 l ₁ are formed so that the innersurfaces of the open end parts fit in a detachable manner with stepparts 403 f ₁ and 403 f ₂ provided at both ends of the above-describedheating unit 403 f to thereby enable supporting of the heating unit 403f at the fitted parts.

[0313] Each of flanges 403 k ₁ and 403 l ₁ is provided with eightthrough holes (403 kh), (403 lh) for insertion of the ceramic pipes.

[0314] By supporting both ends of heating unit 403 f by the two spacers403 k and 403 l at both sides, the position of heating unit 403 f inpyrolysis part 403 can be fixed substantially at the center of main body403 a at all times. As a result, the position to be heated by inductionheating coil 405 can always be set to the central part of heating unit403 f, and the temperature inside ceramic pipes 403 d will thus beprevented from varying greatly due to the shifting of the position atwhich heating unit 403 f is heated.

[0315] With the present embodiment, a non-dielectric material, such asaluminum, is used as the material of spacers 403 k and 403 l.

[0316] Discharge part 404 mainly comprises a dioxin pyrolysis gasdischarge port 404 a and a duct 404 b, which decreases in diameter fromthe upstream side to the downstream side.

[0317] As with introduction part 402, a water-cooled type cooling jacket404 c for cooling the duct 404 b is provided on the outer circumferenceof duct 404 b as shown in FIG. 18.

[0318] A flange 4 d is provided at the large-diameter end of duct 404 band is joined by bolts B and nuts N to a flange 3 j provided at an endof pyrolysis part 403.

[0319] At the interior of duct 404 b is provided a guide member 403 i,which protrudes towards the downstream side from the central part ofpipe supporting plate 403 g of pyrolysis part 403 to enable thepyrolysis gas, resulting from the pyrolysis of the dioxin-containing gasat pyrolysis part 403, to be discharged readily from ceramic pipes 403d.

[0320] The actions of this invention's organohalogen compound pyrolysistreatment device with the above arrangement shall now be described withreference to FIG. 20. With FIG. 20, part of the components shown inFIGS. 18 and 19 are illustrated in simplified form for ease ofcomprehension.

[0321] Cooling water is made to flow through and power is supplied toinduction heating coil 405 to heat the heating unit 403 f housed insidepyrolysis part 403.

[0322] Heating unit 403 f is heated, the heat of heating unit 403 f isheat transferred to ceramic pipes 403 d, and in a few seconds, ceramicpipes 403 d are raised in temperature to a predetermined temperature,for example, 1400° C.

[0323] The dioxin-containing gas is introduced into duct 402 b viaintroduction entrance 402 a of introduction part 402.

[0324] The dioxin-containing gas that has been introduced receives ashear force due to the conical guide member 403 e provided inside duct402 b, is thereby accelerated along the slope of the cone, and isdistributed and guided into the eight ceramic pipes 403 d, which areinserted respectively in the eight through holes 403H₁ of thecylindrical heating unit 403 f and have the ends at both sides fixed bypipe supporting plates 403 c and 403 g.

[0325] (1) The dioxin-containing gas that has been introduced into therespective ceramic pipes 403 d is pyrolyzed favorably by contact withthe inner wall surfaces of the ceramic pipes 403 d that have been heatedto 1400° C.

[0326] (2) The pyrolyzed gas is discharged to discharge part 404. Inthis process, the pyrolysis gas is discharged favorably from inside theeight ceramic pipes 403 d to discharge port 404 a by means of the guidemember 403 i provided inside duct 404 b of discharge part 404.

[0327] (3) The dioxin pyrolysis gas that is discharged from dischargeport 404 a is treated at a downstream stage by a gas cleaning equipmentfor elimination of halogen gas, NO_(x), etc. and is discharged to theatmosphere upon elimination of components that are harmful to the humanbody.

[0328] For example, a wet type alkali cleaning equipment or a dry typeadsorption device may be used as the above mentioned gas cleaningequipment.

[0329] Though the above-described guide members 403 e and 403 i hadconical shapes in the present embodiment, other embodiments shall now bedescribed with reference to FIG. 21.

[0330] Guide member 406 e of a first other embodiment has a plurality ofgrooves GT provided along the slope of the cone from the apex of thecone as shown in FIG. 21A in order to further facilitate theintroduction of the dioxin-containing gas into the interiors of theceramic pipes in comparison to a conical guide member. Each grooves GTis preferably provided with a shape such that the width of groove GTexpands from the apex of the cone towards the bottom side of the cone.

[0331] By thus providing such a gas guide member 406 e, provided with aplurality of grooves GT along the slope of a cone, inside the duct ofthe introduction part, the cross-sectional area of the flow path of thegas inside the duct is made gradually smaller towards the downstreamside and pressure energy is thus converted to the speed energy of thegas. And by the pushing of the gas into the ceramic pipes along thegrooves GT, the gas can be distributed favorably and the gas can be madeto flow through the ceramic pipes at a high gas flow rate.

[0332] A dome-shaped protrusion may be provided as with guide member 407e of a second other embodiment, shown in FIG. 21B. The protrusion mayfor example have the shape of a 2:1 ellipse mirror plate or dish, etc.

[0333] By forming guide member 407 e in this manner, thedioxin-containing gas can be introduced more readily into the interiorsof the ceramic pipes.

EXAMPLES

[0334] A method of treating organohalogen compounds and/or substancescontaining organohalogen compounds, in other words, PCBs and/orPCBs-containing substances using this invention's organohalogen compounddecomposition treatment device 1 shall now be described with referenceto FIG. 3 or 4 as suited.

[0335] A capacitor containing PCBs is housed inside heating container12. This heating container 12 is carried into lower chamber 10 from thecarry-in entrance 15 that is provided at lower chamber 10 of gasifyingmeans 2 and is set on the alumina pedestal 18 on lift 17 inside lowerchamber 10 (see FIG. 4).

[0336] After closing the above mentioned carry-in entrance 15, valve 22at the downstream side of vacuum exhaust pipe 20 is opened, the interiorof lower chamber 10 is decompressed by means of vacuum pump 42, and thepressure inside lower chamber 10 is thereby made 100 Pa (gauge pressure)or less (see FIG. 3).

[0337] Thereafter, valve 22 is closed, valve 23, which is interposedbetween a nitrogen gas cylinder and inert gas introduction pipe 21, isopened to introduce nitrogen gas into lower chamber 10, and afternitrogen replacement has been accomplished, valve 23 is closed. Thisseries of pressure reduction—nitrogen replacement operations is repeatedtwice.

[0338] After completion of the nitrogen replacement of the interior oflower chamber 10, shutter 14 is opened to put upper chamber 11, which isconstantly maintained in a reduced pressure state by means of vacuumpump 42, and lower chamber 10, which has been subject to nitrogenreplacement, into communication. Lift 17 is then raised to send out theheating container 12, in which the treated object P is contained, andmake the container be housed in the inner side of high-frequency coil 24provided inside upper chamber 11. Lift 17 is then made to contact theroof surface of lower chamber 10 to thereby seal the interior of upperchamber 11 (see FIG. 4).

[0339] Vacuum valve 46 and butterfly valve 45 are closed and liquidnitrogen is made to flow through cooling pipe 48 to actuate the pressuredifferential generating means 5. The pressure of the isolated space thathas been closed by butterfly valve 45 and vacuum valve 46 is made lowerthan the pressure of the non-isolated space that is not closed tothereby generate a negative pressure state inside the closed, isolatedspace. Thereafter, butterfly valve 45 is opened gradually and thepressure inside upper chamber 11 of the above-described gasifying means2 is set to 100 Pa (gauge pressure).

[0340] At the same time, heating unit 30 of pyrolysis means 3 is heatedand stabilized in temperature at 1400° C. Since in this process thetemperature rises due to heating and the pressure inside the space fromthe above-described gasifying means 2 to the above mentioned butterflyvalve 45 increases, the opening of butterfly valve 45 is increasedaccordingly to adjust the pressure (see FIG. 3).

[0341] When the temperature of heating unit 30 of pyrolysis means 3stabilizes at 1400° C., the high-frequency power supply of gasifyingmeans 2 is turned on to gradually heat the heating container 12 tothereby heat and melt the treated object P and gasify the PCBs. In thisprocess, the PCBs are gasified while adjusting the opening of butterflyvalve 45 so that the pressure inside upper chamber 11 of the PCBsgasifying means 2 is maintained at 100 Pa (gauge pressure).

[0342] When upon complete vaporization of the PCBs, the pressure insideupper chamber 11 begins to drop with the opening of butterfly valve 45being kept fixed, the high-frequency power supply of vaporization means2 is turned off and heating container 12 is allowed to cool naturally.The power supply of pyrolysis means 3 is also turned off and heatingunit 30 is also allowed to cool.

[0343] After completion of cooling of heating container 12, lift 17 islowered and heating container 12 is moved to lower chamber 10 ofgasifying means 2. Thereafter, shutter 14 is closed to partition upperchamber 11 and lower chamber 10 and the interior of upper chamber 11 ismaintained in a reduced pressure state constantly.

[0344] Valve 23 is opened and after the interior of lower chamber 10 isbrought to atmospheric pressure, heating container 12 is carried outfrom carry-in entrance 15 and the residues inside heating container 12are taken out, thereby completing the decomposition treatment of PCBsand/or PCBs-containing substances.

[0345] The respective means of this invention's organohalogen compounddecomposition treatment device 1 are arranged in blocks and connectedvia piping.

[0346] Since the device can thus be separated into the respective blocksfor transport, the device can be transported readily and theinstallation of the device is also simplified.

[0347] Furthermore, an optimal device arrangement can be configuredaccording to the type of treated object by the realignment of thevarious parts mentioned above, the addition of parts, etc. Theconfiguration of organohalogen compound decomposition treatment device 1is thus not limited to the above-described arrangements and sequencesand may be determined as suited.

[0348] Also, the iron chloride that is recovered by the use of thisinvention's method or device may be used as industrial raw material andthe sodium chloride and carbon powder that are recovered are harmlessand may thus be used as snow melting agents, etc. Furthermore, since theresidue inside the heating container does not contain any organohalogencompounds and other hazardous materials whatsoever, it can be recoveredas slag and used in roadbed materials, blocks, etc.

[0349] The results of experiment using this invention's gaseousorganohalogen compound decomposition treatment device 201 shall now bedescribed.

[0350] For the experiment, oil samples of three levels (Sample 1: onlyelectrical insulation oil; Sample 2: electrical insulation oilcontaining 10 mass % of liquid PCBs; Sample 3: only liquid PCBs) wereused.

[0351] Here the gasification of each sample was performed inside achamber adjusted in pressure to 100 Pa or less by the operation of avacuum pump and performing high-frequency induction heating of astainless steel container in which each sample was placed.

[0352] The decomposition treatment inside the decomposition treatmentdevice was carried out by heating a stainless steel decomposition partto 1000° C. by high-frequency induction heating.

[0353] Whether or not the PCBs were decomposed was judged by interposinga dry trap between gaseous organohalogen compound decompositiontreatment device 201 and the vacuum pump and using a gas chromatographydevice to detect whether or not PCBs and dioxins are contained in theactivated carbon, which is the filler in the dry trap.

[0354] As a result, whereas 0.2 ppm of PCBs were detected with Sample 3as shown in Table 1 below, most of the PCBs were decomposed. Also withSample 2, all of the PCBs were decomposed. TABLE 1 Name of Material ofContent of PCBs in sample PCBs content (%) decomposition part activatedcarbon Sample 1 0 Stainless steel Not detected Sample 2 10 Stainlesssteel Not detected Sample 3 100 Stainless steel 0.2 ppm

[0355] It was thus confirmed that this invention's organohalogencompound decomposition device can decompose and render harmless PCBsthat have been supplied in a gaseous state substantially without fail.

[0356] Examples of application of this invention's organohalogencompound pyrolysis treatment device to the treatment ofdioxin-containing gas shall now be described with reference to Table 1.

[0357] 1. Experimental Conditions

[0358] (a) High-frequency power supply: 50 kW, 200V×3φ, frequency f=10kHz

[0359] (b) Size of pyrolysis treatment device: 465L×170W×170H

[0360] (c) Analyzing device: High-resolution gas chromatography,high-resolution mass spectrometer

[0361] 2. Experimental Methods

[0362] (1) The power of the high-frequency power supply is supplied toan induction heating coil. In this process, cooling water is made toflow through the interior of the coil.

[0363] (2) Heating is performed until the central temperature of theheating unit inside the pyrolysis part becomes 1400° C.

[0364] (3) 100 mg of dioxin and 50 g of vinyl chloride are placed insidea stainless steel container and heated under air, and the vaporizeddioxin-containing gas is supplied to the introduction part of thepyrolysis device.

[0365] (4) The dioxin-containing gas that has been distributed favorablyby the guide member inside the introduction part is pyrolyzed by contactwith the inner walls of the ceramic pipes that have been heated to 1400°C.

[0366] Though as the thermal decomposition temperature of dioxin, thereis the (1) low thermal decomposition temperature of 800 to 100° C. (onlythe chlorine is removed but the benzene ring is not decomposed in thiscase) and (2) high thermal decomposition temperature of approximately1400° C. (the chlorine is removed and the benzene ring is decomposed),the data for pyrolysis at a temperature of 1400° C. are shown for thepresent example (see Table 2).

[0367] (5) The pyrolysis gas that is discharged from the pyrolysis partto the discharge part is collected to the discharge part by the guidemember and is discharged from the discharge port. TABLE 2 Results ofAnalysis of Exhaust Gas from the Pyrolysis Treatment Device Thermaldecomposition temperature: 1400° C. Measure Toxicity Item of analysis dvalue (TEQ) equivalent Dioxins 2,3,7,8-T₄CDD N.D ×1 0 1,2,3,7,8-T₅CDDN.D ×1 0 1,2,3,4,7,8-T₆CDD N.D ×0.1 0 1,2,3,6,7,8-T₆CDD N.D ×0.1 01,2,3,7,8,9-T₆CDD N.D ×0.1 0 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-T₇CDD N.D ×0.01 0 0₈CDD N.D×0.0001 0 Total of PCDD_(S) — 0 Dibenzofurans 2,3,7,8-T₄CDF N.D ×0.1 01,2,3,7,8-T₅CDF N.D ×0.05 0 2,3,4,7,8-T₅CDF N.D ×0.5 0 1,2,3,4,7,8-T₆CDFN.D ×0.1 0 1,2,3,6,7,8-T₆CDF N.D ×0.1 0 1,2,3,7,8,9-T₆CDF N.D ×0.1 02,3,4,6,7,8-T₆CDF N.D ×0.1 0 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-T₇CDF N.D ×0.01 01,2,3,4,7,8,9-T₇CDF N.D ×0.01 0 0₈CDF N.D ×0.0001 0 Total of PCDF_(S) —0 Total of (PCDD_(S) + PCDF_(S)) — 0 Coplanar Non-ortho 3,4,4′,5-H₄CB(#81) N.D ×0.0001 0 PCBs 3,3′,4,4′-H₄CB (#77) 0.1 ×0.0001 0.000013,3′,4,4′,5-H₅CB (#126) N.D ×0.1 0 3,3′,4,4′,5,5′-H₆CB (#169) N.D ×0.010 Mono- 2′,3,4,4′,5-H₅CB (#123) N.D ×0.0001 0 ortho 3,3′4,4′,5-H₅CB(#118) 0.8 ×0.0001 0.00008 2,3,4,4′,5-H₅CB (#114) N.D ×0.0005 02,3,3′4,4′-H₅CB (#105) 0.4 ×0.0001 0.00004 2,3′4,4′,5,5′-H₆CB (#167) N.D×0.00001 0 2,3,3′4,4′,5-H₆CB (#156) N.D ×0.0005 0 2,3,3′4,4′,5′-H₆CB(#157) N.D ×0.0005 0 2,3,3′4,4′,5,5′-H₇CB (#189) N.D ×0.0001 0 Total ofC₀—PCB — 0.00013 Total of (PCDD_(S) + PCDF_(S) + Co—PCB_(S)) — 0.00013

[0368] TABLE 3 Explanation of the Items of Table 2 Lower limit of Itemof analysis quantification (ng) Dioxins Tetrachlorinated compounds 0.05Pentachlorinated compounds 0.05 Hexachlorinated compounds 0.1Heptachlorinated compounds 0.1 Octachlorinated compounds 0.2Dibenzofurans Tetrachlorinated compounds 0.05 Pentachlorinated compounds0.05 Hexachlorinated compounds 0.1 Heptachlorinated compounds 0.1Octachlorinated compounds 0.2 Coplanar PCBs Non-ortho 0.1 Mono-ortho 0.1

[0369] As can be understood from Table 2, the measured values ofdioxins, dibenzofurans, and coplanar PCBs are values that adequatelysatisfy the environmental standards at the exit of the pyrolysis device.

[0370] Also, with the exception of three types of organochlorinecompounds among the coplanar PCBs, all compounds among dioxins,dibenzofurans, and coplanar PCBs were of concentrations less than orequal to the detection limit (quantification limit).

[0371] The toxicity equivalent (TEQ) in Table 2 is the toxicity relativeto 2,3,7,8-TCDD (tetrachlorodibenzo-para-dioxin), which is strongest intoxicity among dioxins. Also, the constants indicated at the left sidein the toxicity equivalent (TEQ) column in Table 2 are toxicityequivalent factors and each indicates the toxicity when the toxicity of2,3,7,8-TCDD (tetrachlorodibenzo-para-dioxin), which is the most toxic,is set to 1.

What is claimed is:
 1. A device for decomposing an organic compound,which heats and decomposes organic compounds in at least one pyrolysiszone in a gas phase, said pyrolysis zone comprising at least onehigh-frequency induction heating device provided within a gas passage.2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pyrolysis zone iscomposed of a vacuum chamber connected to pressure reducing means. 3.The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a gasifying device forgasifying a solid and/or liquid substance is provided upstream of saidpyrolysis zone.
 4. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein apreheating device is provided upstream said high-frequency inductionheating device within the pyrolysis zone.
 5. The device as claimed inclaim 1, wherein a second heating device utilizing radiation heat isprovided downstream said high-frequency induction heating device withinthe pyrolysis zone.
 6. The device as claimed in claim 1, which furthercomprises a trapping zone for trapping decomposed substance.
 7. Thedevice as claimed in claim 1, wherein said high-frequency inductionheating device comprising: an introduction part which introduces a gasto be treated, a pyrolysis part which pyrolyzes the gas to be treated,an induction heating coil provided around the outer circumference ofsaid pyrolysis part so as to surround and heat said pyrolysis part, andan exhaust part which exhausts the gas having been decomposed in saidpyrolysis part; said pyrolysis part comprising a cylindrical body bothends of which are sealed, slits which communicate the interior with theexterior of said cylindrical body provided on the outer surface of saidcylindrical body, and a communication pores to be communicated with anintroduction tube which introduces said gas to be treated into theinterior of said cylindrical body.
 8. The device as claimed in claim 1,wherein said organic compounds are selected from the group consisting oforganic halogen compounds, exhaust oils, residues from food processing.9. The device as claimed in claim 8, wherein said halogen compounds aremono- or poly-halogenated aromatic or aliphatic compounds, andcombination thereof or combination the above compounds with otherhalogen compounds.
 10. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein saidpyrolysis zone comprising a high-frequency induction heating devicecomprising: an introduction part which introduces a gas to be treated, apyrolysis part which pyrolyzes the gas to be treated, an inductionheating coil provided around the outer circumference of said pyrolysispart so as to surround and heat said pyrolysis part, and an exhaust partwhich exhausts the gas having been decomposed in said pyrolysis part;said pyrolysis part comprising a cylindrical body which introduces thegas provided so that the cross-section of the passage of saidcylindrical body becomes smaller from the upstream towards thedownstream; and a supporting member for supporting said high frequencyinduction device.
 11. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein saidhigh-frequency induction heating device comprising: an introduction partwhich introduces a gas to be treated, a pyrolysis part which pyrolyzesthe gas to be treated, an induction heating coil provided around theouter circumference of said pyrolysis part so as to surround and heatsaid pyrolysis part, and an exhaust part which exhausts the gas havingbeen decomposed in said pyrolisis part; said pyrolysis part having aheating element having a plurality of through holes along the inside ofthe outer circumference of the diameter direction thereof and ceramicpipes inserted within said plurality of through holes and supported bypipe supporting plates accommodated therein.
 12. The device as claimedin claim 11, wherein said pyrolysis part has pressure reducing means forreducing the pressure of the body.
 13. The device as claimed in claim11, wherein said pyrolysis part has compressing means for compressingthe body by an inert gas.
 14. The device as claimed in claim 12 or 13,wherein said pipe supporting plate has a guide member for introducing agas to be treated into said ceramic pipe.
 15. The device as claimed inclaim 14, wherein said ceramic pipe is made of at least one memberselected from the group consisting of silicon carbide and alumina. 16.The device as claimed in claim 15, wherein step part to be fit tospacers are provided on both ends of said heating element.
 17. Thedevice as claimed in claim 16, wherein said spacer comprisesnon-dielectric material and is formed from a flange having the pluralityof through holes and cylindrical body. 18 A process for decomposing anorganic compound, by heating and decomposing the organic compounds to betreated in at least one pyrolysis zone in a gas phase, comprisingpassing a gas containing the organic compounds through a high-frequencyinduction heating device provided within a gas passage.
 19. A system forpyrolyzing organic compounds comprising a gasifying device for gasifyinga solid and/or liquid substance, a pyrolysis zone, said pyrolysis zoneincluding an optional preheating device, a high-frequency inductionheating device, and an optional post-heating device, and a trapping zonefor trapping decomposed substance.
 20. The system as claimed in claim25, wherein the substance containing the organic compounds to be treatedis bypassed through said gasifying device for and directly passedthrough said pyrolysis zone.